XxX
Inhale.
Naruto stood on the highest point of the tree's trunk. He checked the positions of the targets he could see one last time. Six on the trees around him and two on the tree behind. He closed his eyes and bent his knees.
Exhale.
Naruto exhaled slowly and sprung into the air. He rolled forward in the air until his feet were facing the sky as eight kunai appeared in his hands, held between his fingers. He threw all the ones in his right hand and two in his left during the first rotation.
Naruto tossed one of the last two kunai to his right hand as he rotated once more, drew both his arms back, and threw them at the ones thrown by his left hand, just as they were past the tree he had leaped off of. He heard the sound of metal hitting metal followed by the thunk of wood as he landed in a crouch.
The six targets visible to him had a kunai lodged in the middle. He got up and circled the tree. A smile broke onto his face when he saw that his kunai hit the bullseye on the targets behind it as well.
Finally.
Naruto walked on the tree trunks, removed the blades from the targets, and returned them to the holster on his thigh. Naruto opened his backpack, took out the green hoodie he had bought the previous day, and wore it over his black shirt. He checked his black shorts for any dust, put his backpack on, and started walking to the Academy.
XxX
And now…
Naruto stepped forward even before Iruka called his name. There were only two people left in the class. Uchiha Sasuke stepped in with his head held high and a round of cheers erupted in the crowd.
Naruto held his right hand up in front of his chest, fingers in the Seal of Confrontation and Sasuke did the same with his left hand. His eyes were cold and dead set on victory.
"Get him, Sasuke-kun!"
It was Yamanaka Ino.
"Show him who's the best!"
"You're gonna do it, Sasuke-kun!"
Naruto chuckled inwardly.
"Silence!" Mizuki yelled.
"Begin."
Naruto brought his hands up but stayed back and let Sasuke take the initiative in hopes of making the fight a little more interesting. He sidestepped Sasuke's first kick but, he did not foresee that the Uchiha was going to execute a double roundhouse kick and blocked the second kick with his forearm. He winced at the pain.
That's a nice move.
Naruto feinted a punch with his left, Sasuke bent back to avoid the jab. He feinted again, with his right this time. Sasuke growled. Naruto evaded Sasuke's punch by leaning to the left and rammed his fist into Sasuke's body. Sasuke was still extended from the hook he threw.
Naruto's fist was but a blur to almost everyone watching.
Sasuke was still reeling from the punch when Naruto kicked him in the face. Sasuke managed to duck under the left hook that followed and punched Naruto squarely on the stomach.
He's gotten better.
Naruto leaned away from Sasuke's uppercut and stepped on his front foot. Sasuke was caught off guard by the unorthodox move and Naruto used the opportunity to backhand him. Naruto tackled Sasuke to the ground and was over him with a hand on his chest and a fist drawn back when Iruka called the match.
Groans and protests escaped from the audience as he stood up. Sasuke schooled his features from a frown into neutrality as he reached out to make the Seal of Reconciliation and one of the students shouted, "He'll beat you one of these days you prick!"
Naruto's jaw tightened as he turned away from the student who said that and walked through the other side of the crowd, leaving Sasuke standing in the middle with his hand extended.
Don't let them get to you.
"The Seal of Reconciliation is a sign of respect to your opponent. It is also a gesture to remind each other that you are still comrades," Mizuki said as Naruto stopped a few meters away from the crowd.
I already know that! Besides why the hell are you not lecturing the guy who called me a prick?
"I apologize, Mizuki-sensei. It won't happen again," Naruto said, meeting Mizuki's stern gaze.
"It had better not," Mizuki said and went to Iruka's side.
Iruka then went over the notes that contained whatever mistakes that they had made, gave each of them a few suggestions on things that they could do better, and put them through an hour of physical conditioning. They headed back in for their lunch break and the lecture that followed after Iruka was done.
Iruka pulled Naruto aside as he was heading home at the end of the school day.
"I've forwarded your request for early graduation and put in my recommendation but… I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet, Naruto," he said.
"I'm already good enough for genin," Naruto said.
"You have a lot of skill for an eight-year-old, I know. But the rules were changed over five years ago and you would still be missing out on a lot of the curriculum if you graduated now. I'm not sure they'll make an exception even with your talent."
"I hope your recommendation does its job and convinces the higher-ups then. See you tomorrow sensei," Naruto said with a wink.
"See you tomorrow, Naruto."
XxX
"Dammit!"
Naruto tore the piece of paper to pieces. His application to graduate early had been rejected. For the third time in three years.
I can't believe I'm going to graduate with everyone else! I can wipe the floor with any genin in the village!
Naruto took a deep breath.
It doesn't matter.
Naruto walked aimlessly for a few minutes while trying to keep his mind blank. He paused as the large lake located at the edge of the village became visible. Its clear blue water was still and some fish swam up to the surface.
Some fish for dinner doesn't sound bad.
Catching fish while standing on the surface of the water was good training for his reflexes. He trudged to the bank and was about to step onto the water when he saw someone standing on the pier, which was on the opposite end.
He recognized the person as Sasuke. There was some steam rising from the surface of the water and it looked like Sasuke was breathing hard, with his hands on his knees.
Why is there steam?
Naruto almost turned away when the boy began performing some hand seals. He counted six.
That's way more seals than any technique we were taught. What technique is that?
His eyes widened as Sasuke breathed out a huge fireball. The orange and red flames continued spewing out of Sasuke's mouth for a few moments before stopping. More water evaporated, clouding his vision slightly.
Must be one of the fire techniques of the Uchiha clan.
Sasuke stared at the water for a few more seconds and left without noticing him. He knew that clan kids were taught techniques by their own families but seeing one in action was another thing entirely.
And nothing he had learned could come close to the damage that the fireball could do.
It's unfair!
Naruto had not been allowed to graduate early and further his skills, but Sasuke was already learning elemental ninjutsu. Something that even genin would not learn until they had gained at least a year or two of experience.
Graduation was nearly a year away and teaching him after he had gained the necessary experience was entirely up to his jounin sensei.
Even if my sensei agrees, will the techniques he teaches be as good as that?
This problem needed a solution. Waiting for two years was not an option. A kunai spun around his finger. Well, techniques below A-rank are kept in the Grand Archive.
Getting in was not an issue as even Academy students were allowed entry. However, the sections that housed scrolls containing techniques that were classified as D-rank and above were off-limits to him.
These sections were also under supervision by three chuunin at all times. Taking a scroll out of the building was prohibited and it had only one entry and exit. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. This was not going to be easy. Not in the slightest.
XxX
A full week of reconnaissance had only confirmed the expertise of whoever came up with the design of the building. It was built to keep things in and those guys knew their stuff when it came to infiltration. The more Naruto thought about it, the more improbable his chances of success seemed.
His face was stuck in a frown as he opened the door to his apartment. He dumped his backpack and plopped onto the couch. He kept his eyes on the off-white ceiling for a few minutes.
He sighed and sat up slightly. The doors to his bedroom and kitchen were closed, as was the custom. The wallpaper had faded and was peeling off, floorboards were creaking, and his table was empty save a white scroll.
Wait… where did that come from?
A small note was taped on the scroll's outer surface.
I hope that you find the contents of this interesting.
Naruto blinked once and read the note again.
Is this a prank?
Naruto looked around for any indication of a forced entry but everything was in place. The small pieces of paper that he kept just below the lower hinges of the door were exactly as they were. If someone had snuck in, it had been a professional.
He also inspected his kitchen and bedroom. Nothing had been disturbed. Naruto eyed the scroll for a while. He slowly picked it up, removed the note, and unfurled it across the table. There was only one line written on the top in elegant handwriting.
Channel some chakra into the scroll.
Naruto sent some chakra into the scroll. Two different sets of kanji flashed on the scroll before it settled on a third set. His fingers began trembling as he finished reading the contents of the scroll.
Maybe, just maybe, things were looking up for once.
XxX
Training Ground 44 loomed over Naruto menacingly. The trees were much bigger and grew so close to each other one could not see more than fifteen meters past the fence. The forest itself was shrouded in darkness. A purer, more powerful darkness than the one on the outside.
It was restricted to chuunin and above. However, there was nothing preventing anyone from jumping in. Most Academy students and genin were not even aware of its existence and those who did, did not have the guts to go in. The stories about the things that lurked inside had made sure of that. This was the last place anyone would expect an Academy student to be practicing in. He trailed his fingers over the mask that covered the lower half of his face.
A shinobi using elemental ninjutsu here would be nothing out of the ordinary. The fact that he was dressed in black from head to toe would only make him that much harder to recognize. The odds of someone being inside at night were pretty slim, to begin with.
Time to see if the rumors are true.
Naruto vaulted over the fence and landed on a branch that was far bigger and sturdier than that of any other tree he had come across in the past. The green moss that grew over the wood was smooth and slippery under his gloves and sandals. The branches did not even move as he landed on them. Barely any moonlight made it past the thick canopy that blanketed the forest.
Once Naruto was sure that he was deep enough to be completely hidden to anyone on the outside and that there was no one in his vicinity, he leaned against the trunk of the tree he was on, he reached into his pouch and took out the scroll and held it under a patch of moonlight. He read the contents once again, checking if he remembered everything written on it, and put it back in.
Naruto took a deep breath and molded some chakra, approximately eight times as much as was needed to produce three Bunshin.
Boar-Ram-Snake-Horse-Dragon. Raiton: Jibashi!
The blond hairs on Naruto's arms stood up as a pungent burning smell, and a low hum made themselves known to him as he separated his hands.
Dark blue electricity danced around his hands. It arced from one finger to another and some of it from one hand to another even as he stared at his palms. Suddenly, white-hot pain shot up his hands and arms. Naruto grimaced and jerked his hands towards the branch he was standing on. The current dashed out of his hands too fast for his eyes to track.
The wood cracked loudly along the path of the electricity's flow. That and a few wisps of smoke were the only signs of any electrical discharge. Naruto stuck to the tree's trunk as the branch split into two and broke. They fell with a thud and the rise of dust.
Amazing.
Take that Sasuke! Naruto pumped his fist but hissed immediately after. Hurts though. Naruto flexed his hands experimentally a few times and brought them together again after the pain became more manageable.
An hour passed in what felt like minutes to the blond. After obliterating twenty more branches of varying sizes, Naruto stood in front of a large tree.
Let's see how far I can push this.
Naruto went through the sequence again, shoved as much chakra as he could into the technique, and cast his hands in the direction of his target. Lightning burst forth from his hands and traveled up the large tree's side, fracturing the thick wood in its wake.
Naruto stopped some of the woodchips shooting out of the trunk with his forearm. They bounced off him painlessly as he watched the tree bend toward him. Blue eyes widened as the tree did not stabilize.
Naruto rolled out of the way of the massive trunk as it crashed into the ground. More moonlight fell on some of the patches of grass as birds perched in the surrounding trees took to the sky, with their respective calls. The harsh voice of the crows was the one that was the clearest.
Naruto stood up, snapping the ends of a small branch in the process. He took in the raw power of the technique while completely ignoring the dust that clung to his mask and mesh outfit.
This is what a C-rank Raiton jutsu can do?
Naruto brought his hands up and looked at them again. They tightened into fists. This was far better than anything he had hoped for. He turned back towards the exit with a smirk. Just as he was about to take to the trees, his ears picked up a distant pounding. He looked in its direction.
It's getting louder.
A gigantic boar emerged into the small clearing and charged at him with a thunderous grunt. Naruto jumped as it was a few meters away but it was too late. It hit his airborne form with the force of a sledgehammer as it swung its head. Naruto was sent flying upwards. He hit the upper portion of a tree with a crack and some blood dribbled out of his mouth.
Naruto slid down the truck and stuck to the first branch on the way down. His chest burned with every breath he took, and his right shoulder protested against even the slightest of movements. The sturdy wood behind his back was the only thing that was keeping him upright.
Shit! That was too loud.
The tree shook violently less than three seconds later. His arms and legs began quivering.
He can smell me.
Naruto's quivering only increased as the tree quaked once more. I'm not dying here!
Naruto inhaled, pushing the pain to the back of his mind. I'll get caught if this goes on for too long.
His fingers tightened over the wood as the boar struck the tree harder than before.
Calm down. You're too good to be taken down by a stupid boar.
Naruto leaped onto another tree and a small growl escaped his lips despite his best efforts. It was not a second too soon as the fourth strike by the beast had felled the tree he was standing on earlier. The boar veered to the tree he was currently on. He palmed a kunai, tied some wire to its ring, and waited for the behemoth to come to him.
Naruto pushed off the branch as the boar was about seven meters from the trunk. He drew his hand back and drove it into the beast as he fell on it, less than a second after it struck the tree. The kunai penetrated its thick hide and half of his forearm sunk into the animal's body due to his momentum.
The boar gave out a loud and rough cry and started galloping. It felt as if the very ground was shaking under its steps.
Looks like I missed a vital spot.
Naruto directed the chakra to his free hand and toes while pulling his hand out of the beast's body.
Guess I have to use that jutsu again.
However, the boar changed tactics and dashed towards a few low branches before Naruto had the chance to perform the seals required. Blue eyes widened as two branches crossed over less than ten meters away from him. He leaped while tightening his grip on the wire that was still tied to the kunai. He twisted his body while bending his spine, orienting his body into a curve. He passed over the branches, with only a few centimeters of air between them and his back.
The wire Naruto was holding chafed his glove and the branch that it was caught in as he skidded to a stop. He bared his teeth and he held onto the wire which snapped a few moments later, after digging into the tough wood by a few millimeters.
Fuck.
The boar continued running for some fifty meters before it stopped and faced him again. Naruto reached out for his chakra and made six Bunshin. They spread out while making sure to stay in the path of the boar's rampage. It paused for a second as it saw the doppelgangers. Naruto used that to position himself perpendicular to the path it would take. It shook its head and rushed at the clones with another grunt.
Naruto crouched, leaned forward, and went through the hand seals of his new technique. He channeled all the lightning to his right hand and circulated chakra to his feet. He grimaced at the pain in his hand and arm as the boar was less than ten meters away from his illusionary doppelgangers.
Now!
The ground under his feet exploded and the excess chakra propelled him in the direction of his target. Naruto's fist struck the boar's neck, the electricity aiding him in punching a hole through its skin and muscle. The large animal was knocked off its feet as blood and small pieces of flesh splattered onto the blond while the majority fell onto the trees and grass.
"Dammit!"
Naruto crumbled next to the dead beast. Some of its ribs were visible to him as a large part of the boar's thoracic cavity had been emptied by his punch. The smell of fresh blood permeated the air. The pain in his hand was almost unbearable. He tilted his head down and caught the slight burns on his right hand as well the small amounts of smoke coming from it.
Damn, that was too close.
Naruto dragged himself up a tree while panting and downed the contents of his canteen in a single gulp. He made himself as comfortable as he could. Regardless of how risky it was to sleep in the forest, there was no way he could make it back home in the condition that he was in. He closed his eyes and fell asleep seconds later, brushing off the faint chuckle he heard as his imagination.
Naruto woke up to the sound of a twig snapping. He sprang up, his hand already on for the holster strapped to his thigh. He sighed as he saw that there was nothing big around him.
It's only six in the morning. I can still make it. Wait…
Naruto inhaled as much air as he could. He then moved his right hand, arm, and torso.
No pain? And the burns are gone.
Not falling sick for as long as he could remember was something he had chalked up to his healthy eating habits, lifestyle, and luck but healing broken ribs and bones overnight were not normal. Just like how cuts and bruises healing in a matter of minutes was definitely not normal.
The burns were not the only thing that vanished, however. The smell of rotten flesh that he had been expecting to wake up to was also absent. He turned to the ground again and the carcass of the boar that he had killed the last night was gone too. Naruto searched for footsteps or drag marks. He extended his senses and found nothing.
Guess I have a lot of figuring out to do.
XxX
A breeze ruffled Naruto's blond hair as he rested against the railing at the top of the mountain that overlooked the village. The first rays of the sun immersed Konoha and its surrounding forests in the most vibrant of oranges. The Hokage Tower seemed as though it was the physical embodiment of the Will of Fire. Birds chirped in the forests, a more pleasant alternative to the usual buzz of the village.
Naruto focused on the horizon and thought about all the places he would see now that he would at some point shortly travel with his team. And finally, be out of Konoha for an extended period.
The green hoodie and black shorts that had been a part of his wardrobe since his first day of the Academy were still in place. The black shirt he used to wear underneath had been replaced by a mesh shirt and his once exposed shins were now covered in bandages.
The beginning of his ninja career awaited him in the Academy. The day where he would finally take his first step on the way to greatness and show everyone just what he was made of.
The identity of his benefactor, who had given him three more scrolls, the last of which was by far the most valuable technique he had ever come across, over the last year was another mystery that he was no closer to solving. Iruka had been his first suspect but the more he thought about it, the more unlikely he felt that was.
It just did not fit. Iruka treated all his students equally, no matter what. It meant that he was always fair to Naruto, but he would not break any rules to help him either. The only reason for him recommending early graduation was because Naruto suggested that the Uchiha clan may push for Sasuke to graduate early and perhaps because Iruka too was an orphan like Naruto.
Mizuki, his assistant was also one of the few that could have been the one but given how little effort he put in to conceal his hatred for Naruto, he dismissed him too. Things between them had actually gotten worse in the last year. And since he did not interact with anyone else who even had the clearance to access the contents of the scroll, he had hit a dead end.
It and the question of his uncanny regenerative abilities had gone unanswered despite his best efforts.
Today's not the day to think about that.
The blade of his chakra-conductive ninjato glinted in the sunlight. He had got it custom-made with the gift money that he was given for topping his class. The weekly hunting sessions in the Forest of Death had made up for that and still left him with a good amount of money to spend. They had also done wonders for his tracking skills and his ability to set traps as he could only hunt in the dark. He sealed the sword in a scroll and tucked it into his pouch.
Here we go.
Naruto leaped over the railing and dived down the mountain. He spread his arms to control his fall, making sure that the mountainside was less than a foot away from his body. His unzipped green hoodie was flowing back, the sleeves being the only thing keeping it from flying away. The view of the village and sunrise was enhanced by the state of motion his body was in.
Anytime now.
He palmed a kunai in each hand and jammed them into the rock the next instant.
Sparks flew and he heard a loud screeching noise as his descent slowed down and he approached ground level. He pushed off as he was less than ten meters away from the ground, gathered chakra in his feet, and landed on them. The soil under his feet cracked slightly. His first impulse was to get to the Academy as fast as possible but he decided against it.
It's the last time you'll be going there for the foreseeable future. Take it slow.
He zipped his hoodie up, pulled the hood over his face, and completed the look with a face mask.
Naruto stopped on the terrace of Konoha's Ninja Academy and dropped down to the field where the taijutsu portion of the exam was to take place. He threw his hood back and pocketed the mask. Through his classroom's open windows, he could see most of his classmates already present and talking to each other.
A little showing off never hurt anyone.
One hand seal later, Naruto was holding a Fuma shuriken in his hand. He drew it back and threw the shuriken. The whizzing sound produced by the large projectile caught the attention of the class even before it got into the room.
It entered through the window that was opposite the door and burst into a puff of smoke. He touched down with his feet, bent his knees, and used both his hands to skid to a stop. And when the smoke cleared, Uzumaki Naruto, the number one rookie for six consecutive years, was standing at the door. It felt as though all the sound was sucked into a vacuum as the class fell silent.
That's how you make an appearance.
He was making his way to his seat when Kiba got up from his place, blocking his way. His dog was perched on his head. The Inuzuka's face was set in a frown. While Naruto was as tall as him, Kiba cut a far more imposing figure. The marks on his cheeks and fangs only added to his beastly appearance.
"Is there a problem?" Naruto asked.
"Why yes, there is, you cocky bastard. You think you're so much better than the rest of us, don't you?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, but I don't see how that's me being cocky."
Kiba grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. Naruto's first reaction was a scrunching up of his nose as if he had smelled something foul. He was rewarded with a twitch of the Inuzuka's eyelid.
"Listen here, you little shit. Don't think for one second that-"
"You have five seconds to get your dirty hands off me, dog boy," Naruto said.
"Oh? And if I don't?" Kiba asked as his grip tightened.
"Last chance, mutt."
Naruto buried his knee in Kiba's stomach, causing him to cough and stagger back. Kiba growled at him and was getting ready to charge when Sasuke stopped him.
"It's not worth it, Kiba. This isn't the place to fight," Sasuke said, pushing the Inuzka back slightly.
Always acting like a cop.
Sasuke made eye contact with Naruto for a second and returned to his spot at the front of the class.
"Me and Akamaru will show you who's boss one of these days asshole. Just you wait."
"I'm looking forward to pummelling you into the ground," Naruto said as he took his seat.
Sasuke was surrounded by his followers. No changes there. In fact, support for the boy had only grown with the increase in the number of times Naruto knocked him down. Ino was still one of his staunch supporters. Her clan's ninjutsu kept her ahead of her competition in that department. The Jyuunken had also made sure that Hinata was the best among the kunoichi of their batch when it came to taijutsu. No surprises there either.
Who had surprised him, however, was Haruno Sakura. He suspected her pink hair had also played a role in him writing her off. That and the fact that she was not from a shinobi clan, major or minor. From what he heard, she had managed to learn genjutsu and make it her forte.
Genjutsu specialists were quite rare, most ninja opting for the more tangible effects of ninjutsu and taijutsu. It also required a level of chakra control that was impossible for him. His attempts at learning the illusionary art were the only ones to end in complete failure. Naruto consoled himself by reminding himself of his ninjutsu and taijutsu improvements.
"Everyone shut up and get back to your seats!" Iruka yelled as he entered.
"The exam will commence now. You have one hour. All the best everyone," Iruka said and Mizuki began passing out the written portion of the exam. He scowled as he handed Naruto the test.
Naruto blazed through the written test in thirty-six minutes. While Math and physics were engaging in their own way, the fact that they were next to useless on the field made it hard for him to take them seriously.
History was only marginally more useful but he had memorized everything he could regardless. The future strongest shinobi of Konoha needed to know his home's history regardless of his political aspirations.
All the students were required to fight Mizuki for the taijutsu portion. However, he and Sasuke were the only ones who made him eat dirt.
I was still fifteen seconds faster though. The ninjutsu portion was just as easy if not more for Naruto.
"The Bunshin no Justu now. Give me three."
Naruto held his hands in the ram seal once more. Three perfect replicas simmered into existence next to him. Iruka gave him a sincere smile.
"Well, I know you wanted to be through with this years ago. Congratulations, Naruto. You are now a shinobi of Konohagakure. Collect your headband and submit the paperwork to the administration office. May the Will of Fire burn brightly within you."
XxX
Hiruzen lit his pipe and said, "Tora, please fetch Naruto. I wish to speak to him."
A black blur shot out of a corner behind the Hokage and left through one of the open windows. Hiruzen pivoted on his chair to face the village as he brought his pipe up to his mouth. A minor application of fire chakra at his fingertip lit the pipe and the smoke entered his body.
Gray eyes that had lost much of their intensity rested on the face of his now-dead successor. The fastest man in the world. A man the shinobi world thought was undefeatable. They were right.
In a way.
And Hiruzen had hoped that his reputation and the idea of a lasting peace that he shared with his master would make sure that he would lead the Elemental Nations to a peace where no one waged wars simply because they did not want to. A world where all the grudges of the Three Great Wars would be forgotten.
It was naïve. That much Hiruzen had known. But for the first time since Senju Hashirama, he had seen a man whose power was so great that no one else in the continent even came close.
Regrettably, it was not to be. The Yondaime had been taken from them far, far too early and that revolutionary dream of his and his master's had remained just that. A dream.
I'm sorry Minato. I was not fast enough.
His eyes then turned to the flat rock next to the Yondaime's face. Fortunately, in the aftermath of the Kyuubi's resealing, a prodigy had risen through the ranks much faster than anyone in the history of the village. While he too had felt that the burden on his shoulders was too heavy for a child to bear, the boy's determination and dedication to the Will of Fire was far stronger than anything he had ever seen. He was, without a doubt, one of the most talented shinobi to ever hail from his clan and the village.
And after seeing him in action a few days prior, he could say that the comparisons between him and Uchiha Maadara were not far-fetched. His father and clansmen believed that very soon, there would be no one left to rival his power. And most if not all of the Konoha shinobi agreed. Hiruzen himself would have been inclined to concur if not for the presence of one boy.
Uzumaki Naruto.
While he had been following the boy's progress, his requests to graduate early and Iruka's recommendation made him pay even more attention. And the boy was right in estimating his skills. He had managed to top the class and graduate as rookie of the year despite the presence of six clan heirs and Uchiha Sasuke, a genius in his own right.
Then again, his pedigree as the Yondaime's son and an Uzumaki eclipses that of everyone else.
If the boy's growth during the first five years of the Academy was impressive, which it definitely was, the extent of his improvement in the past year was nothing short of phenomenal. Almost as if the rate of his growth had tripled.
Is it possible that he has got a hold of that jutsu?
He dismissed the possibility a second later. Reverse engineering a D and C rank elemental ninjutsu was very much in the realm of possibility for someone as gifted as Naruto but, that technique was out of the question. A knock on the door broke him out of the train of thought. The person who had been the subject of his musing entered after he had given his permission.
"Hokage-sama," Naruto greeted with a bow.
"Hello, Naruto-kun. Sit. It has been a while since we last met, has it not?" Hiruzen asked as Naruto took the chair opposite his.
"It has, Hokage-sama. Pardon me but, is there any reason for you summoning me on the day before our team assignments?" Naruto asked as he folded his hands. The boy's back was also ramrod straight.
"Indeed. It is tradition for the Hokage to personally speak to the valedictorian of the graduating batch. This is done so that the Hokage may become familiar with one who may very well become one of his strongest shinobi. However, when it comes to you, the report does not do your ability justice, Naruto-kun," Hiruzen said, meaning most of it.
He was rewarded with Naruto's posture and face relaxing ever so slightly. He was still on guard though and Hiruzen had expected as much.
"I'm sorry that you could not graduate early, Naruto-kun. However, you will come to realize that it was for only your benefit," he said.
The boy's jaw tightened a little. "I understand, Hokage-sama," Naruto said.
"You do?"
"Yes. If I had graduated early, I would have been put on a team of older kids who would sooner or later come to resent me. This would increase friction within the team and result in our teamwork becoming worse which would mean that the probability of even one member of our team passing the chuunin exams would decrease significantly since at least one of the three rounds is a team event," Naruto said.
"Correct. This on the other hand would increase your chances of becoming a chuunin during your first attempt. On that note, have you made any friends in your class?" Hiruzen asked, a part of him hoping that he answered in the affirmative despite knowing the answer.
"Does Iruka-sensei count?"
"Being too good at what you do comes with its own set of drawbacks I'm afraid, Naruto-kun," Hiruzen said with a chuckle while wincing inwards.
"I never expected them to get so jealous and petty that they would rally behind Sasuke," Naruto said, face perfectly blank.
"They are only children, Naruto-kun. They'll come to understand, eventually."
I know that it won't make up for the things of the past but, I promise you, Naruto-kun, one day everyone in the village will see you for who you are.
"They will, Hokage-sama," Naruto said, blue eyes darkening with emotion that he was all too familiar with.
Ambition.
Hiruzen was reminded of the ambition in another twelve-year-old that he had hoped would succeed him and withheld a grimace.
"What the hell do you want?"
"I want… everything."
Hiruzen refocused on the present.
He and Naruto are nothing alike.
"Speaking of Sasuke, what do you think of him, Naruto-kun?" Hiruzen asked.
"He's just better hiding his jealousy," Naruto said.
"While that may be true, this is not solely Sasuke's fault, Naruto-kun. There is an immense pressure on him to meet the standards set by his brother who I'm sure you have heard of," he said.
"And you think he can't match Itachi?" Naruto asked.
"Well, Itachi was even better than you when he was twelve. Although not by much. However, in time, who knows? Everyone progresses at different paces and peaks at different times. I just hope that you will consider this when dealing with him. The Uchiha clan is a good ally to have after all."
Although the possibility of him ever equaling Itachi is quite bleak.
"I will try to, Hokage-sama," Naruto said.
"Very well then. I hope you become a splendid ninja, Naruto-kun."
"I shall try to meet your expectations, Hokage-sama," Naruto said, bowed and left.
You have already surpassed them. It is I who has let you down.
Naruto was certainly far more rational and mature than most children his age. That was a double-edged sword. He would either understand why things were this way or would obsess over it and begin to develop a strong dislike for the village if he did not hate it already upon learning the truth about his status. And that was too great a risk. The loyalty of a jinchuuriki had to be unquestionable.
He turned to his successor once more.
Forgive me Minato.
XxX
"As of today, all of you are full-fledged Konoha shinobi. However, the road that lies ahead of you is not an easy one. It is one that will be full of hardships and challenges."
And that is precisely why it is our duty as shinobi to tread that difficult path and protect our village and comrades. Because a shinobi is one who endures. I wish you all the best in your journey. Now we shall move onto team assignments."
That's a nice speech actually.
Naruto tuned Iruka's voice out as he called out the teams. His thumb glided across the leaf symbol on his black headband that was at his waist. He was a ninja now and there would be no stopping him.
"Team seven will consist of Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke led by jounin Hatake Kakashi," Iruka said.
Hatake Kakashi? The Copy Ninja?
A smirk appeared on Naruto's face. Kakashi of the Sharingan, son of the White Fang and student of the Yellow Flash. He was one of Konoha's most renowned jounin and had the fourth largest bounty on any leaf ninja in the bingo books. He was also the most successful Anbu captain the leaf ever had. To have such a shinobi for a sensei was more than he had dared to hope for.
Naruto's eyes flickered to Sasuke who was impassive as he stared at Naruto.
Remember what the Hokage said.
His gaze then shifted to Sakura who gave him a small smile and a wave. He was caught off guard by the greeting. Naruto looked around to make sure it was him that she waved to and returned the greeting although it was far less enthusiastic. He had been expecting a more hostile response from Ino's best friend.
Maybe she's just happy that she's on Sasuke's team.
"Your jounin sensei will come and introduce themselves after lunch," Iruka said after reading out the rest of the teams.
As everyone was leaving the classroom, Sakura fell into step with him.
"What do you want?" Naruto asked, keeping his eyes straight up ahead. He saw her freeze at the question with his peripheral vision and stopped.
"Um, since we're on the same team now, I was hoping we could have lunch together, Naruto-kun," Sakura said after a moment.
Naruto regarded her with a raised eyebrow. Sakura was wearing a simple red shirt and black tights. Her bright pink hair was tied up in a bun. She fidgeted slightly as blue eyes stared at her for a few seconds.
She's serious?
"It's okay if you don't want to-"
"Don't you want to have lunch with Sasuke?" Naruto asked.
"Actually, I was looking for both of you. I just felt it was a good idea now that we're a team and all," Sakura said, eyes downcast.
"Fine," Naruto said after he started walking towards the exit. He opened the door and saw Sasuke heading away from them. Sakura saw him as well and called out to him.
Sasuke paused and Sakura caught up to him. Naruto watched her talk to him from a distance. Sasuke's expression was impassive and his eyes were cold as blue met onyx. It appeared that he too agreed to Sakura's request as they both came back to the Academy's entrance.
"So where are we going?" Sasuke asked while shoving his hands into his pockets.
"The terrace," Naruto said and opened the door once more. Sasuke and Sakura followed him as he climbed the stairs that led to the Academy's terrace. Naruto sat down on the step near the railing and took his bento out. While the view from there was good, it did not hold a candle to the one from the Hokage monument and thus, Naruto cared little for it.
The pork that he had cooked in the morning was still smelling just as delicious as it did when he had taken it off the stove despite being much colder thanks to the extra spices that he had added. The brown gravy had soaked into the rice, coloring the grain a light brown. Chopsticks split with a snap as he dug in.
"Did you make that yourself?" Sakura asked as Naruto was halfway through his box.
"Yes," Naruto said. Sasuke stopped eating and stared at him.
"It looks really good. Do you mind if I take a bite?" Sakura asked, a few seconds later.
This time it was Naruto who froze. He extended the box and Sakura took a piece of the pork after a few seconds. Her eyes lit up as she chewed the soft meat.
"This is amazing! You have to give me your recipe," she said.
"You cook? Seriously?" Sasuke asked, setting his empty box down.
"It's not like there's anyone at home to cook," Naruto said with a shrug.
Sasuke winced at the answer. "I'm sorry," he said.
"It's not a big deal."
Orphans were not uncommon in a shinobi village. Casualties were a fact of life in their line of work. Everyone was sympathetic to the orphans in the village.
Except him.
"Do you two know anything about our sensei?" Sakura asked after putting her empty bento away.
"Kakashi of the Sharingan, one of Konoha's elite jounin. He also has the second-highest kill count of any Konoha shinobi, the first being the Yondaime," Sasuke said.
"Looks like I'm not the only one who reads the bingo book," Naruto said with a smirk.
"He was my brother's captain when he first joined the Anbu. Kakashi only got out of the Anbu two years ago," Sasuke said while returning the smirk.
And the only non-Uchiha to have mastered the use of the Sharingan. Of course, you would know all about him.
"And that's our jounin sensei? Amazing," Sakura said.
"We should get back. The lunch break is over," Naruto said as he got to his feet. They found their classroom to be empty.
Looks like sensei's late.
"I need to use the washroom. Ask sensei to wait in case he shows up when I'm gone," Naruto said and made his way to the washroom after seeing Sakura nod.
Naruto locked himself in a cubicle and made the cross seal. He walked out of the cubicle after he heard the doors of all the other cubicles opening. Five nondescript Konoha chuunin had their eyes trained on him.
Go and train with the others.
His disguised clones responded with a nod and left the washroom. Naruto went back to the classroom a few minutes later. Thankfully, their sensei had not arrived yet. Sasuke was writing something on a scroll while Sakura was reading one. Naruto sat down on a seat, folded his legs, and began meditating.
Naruto estimated that an hour passed when he heard the door sliding open and opened his eyes. A jounin with silver hair walked into the room. The facemasks that shinobi often used to conceal their identities had become one of Kakashi's trademarks.
"I'm sorry for being late. As for my first impression of you guys," Kakashi brought his hand to his chin after giving all of them a quick once over and said, "I don't like you. The terrace. In one minute."
What kind of teacher tells his students that he doesn't like them on the first meeting?
Kakashi vanished in a swirl of leaves and Team seven went to the terrace for the second time in the day. Kakashi was leaning against the railing. He motioned for them to sit down in front of him.
"Now, introduce yourselves," Kakashi said while folding his arms.
"Sensei, can you go first and show us how?" Sakura asked.
"Me? My name is Hatake Kakashi. I don't feel like telling you about my likes and dislikes. And I haven't thought about my dreams. As for hobbies, I have many," Kakashi said.
Is this guy for real?
"You, go first," Kakashi said, pointing to Sasuke.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I like training and dislike many things. My dream is to surpass my brother and make my father proud," Sasuke said, chest-puffing up ever so slightly.
Kakashi then looked to Sakura.
"I'm Haruno Sakura. I like learning new genjutsu techniques and my dream is to prove that a civilian born can become as good as the clan kids," Sakura said.
"And lastly…"
"The name is Uzumaki Naruto. And I don't feel like telling you about my goals and ambitions," Naruto said with a smirk.
How do you like it?
Kakashi chuckled. "Well, you three are very interesting and distinctive. We have a mission tomorrow," he said.
"A C-rank?" Sasuke asked.
Kakashi laughed a little at that and said, "No. A survival exercise. Think of it as a test of sorts."
A test?
"A test that will determine if you become genin or not," Kakashi finished.
What?! What were the exams for then?
Sakura voiced his thoughts rather loudly less than a second later.
"Oh, those exams? They're just to see if you have the potential of becoming genin. Out of the twenty-seven students that graduated, only nine will become genin while the rest will be enrolled in the reserve program," Kakashi said.
Even though he was caught off guard by the announcement, Naruto was not afraid. Nine from his class would pass. And he was better than anyone in his class. Which meant that his passing was almost certain. Moreover, this test was made for genin. He on the other hand was already chuunin level. His demolition of Mizuki had proved that much.
Nothing is going to stop me.
"Training ground seven, five am tomorrow. And don't eat anything. You may throw up," Kakashi said and vanished. Naruto did not hang around after that. There was work to do.
XxX
Hey, everyone! Thanks for reading. A fav/follow would be really appreciated and a review would be amazing. You could also check out my other story, Naruto:Stormborn.