"Talking"
'Thinking'
Bijuu, Jutsu, Summons
flashback, letters and setting
I do not own Naruto, it is owned by Masashi Kishimoto
Chapter 1. Death of the Kyubi Jinchuuriki
As she slumped in exhaustion, Tsunade for the first time in nearly a decade looked like her true self, that of an old woman far past her prime.
She had spent the past few hours, doing her best to save the blonde on the operating table from death. It had taken nearly all of her chakra and medical prowess to save him.
As she finished healing him as best as she could, she exited the operation theatre to see Kakashi and Jiraiya waiting outside.
Tsunade immediately activated her genjutsu to hide her age and asked Kakashi, " what the hell happened Kakashi? "
Kakashi shook his head and said, " I don't know Tsunade sama. By the time I reached the Valley of the End, Naruto was in Orochimaru's grasp, he had applied the five elemental seal on Naruto, blocking the Kyubi's chakra from aiding him and then gave him the cursed seal. Orochimaru then absconded with Sasuke, who from the looks of it had lost to Naruto, prior to my arrival. I prioritized saving Naruto, who looked to be on Death's door over chasing after Orochimaru which was a futile effort. "
" What the hell happened to Naruto? I have never seen the kid take so long to heal from an injury", Jiraiya remarked while looking at Tsunade for an answer.
Tsunade shook her head in dismay as she knew that Konoha would now look weak after the defection of the last loyal Uchiha, but she also could not blame Kakashi, as she knew that he was no match for Orochimaru in combat. Also, she knew that Naruto would have been dead if he had been brought to the hospital even half an hour later.
Shaking herself out of her musings she answered Jiraiya, saying "Naruto died twice on the operating table, Jiraiya. He looked to have been put through the blender. He seems to have suffered two fatal wounds from what looks like the chidori, one to his shoulder and another to his right lung. He also seems to have broken his neck, but it seems to have been healed by the Kyubi. But the Chidori wound to the lung was not completely healed, as Orochimaru's five element seal stopped it and then his cursed seal which contained corrupted senjutsu chakra, ripped apart Naruto's chakra coils before being burned out by the Kyubi chakra in his coils. But all this stress resulted in his heart stopping to beat, Jiraiya. And the Kyubi was released from the seal. This served as a shock and jolted Naruto's heart back to life. And the remaining Kyubi chakra remnants in his body and the senjutsu chakra managed to keep him alive till I healed him. Another ten minutes and he would be permanently dead. One of the reasons he is still alive is because of the incredible durability of the Uzumaki clan members. His chakra levels have plummeted from above high kage to elite jounin level. And he seems to be suffering from an abundance of Yang chakra, making him unable to use more than two Shadow Clones for now, and even that will be difficult till he brings a balance between his Yin and Yang chakra. The Nature Chakra remnants from the cursed seal in his body healed him with my help, but his body is basically now a clone of his original body, one generated by Senjutsu chakra and Bijuu chakra. Also the Kyubi cannot be resealed inside him, as now his chakra system is fully grown. "
Jiraiya seemed to be shocked at this declaration, as he kept muttering "The Kyubi is gone, but the prophecy_"
Tsunade shook him out of his musings and asked, " do you want to see him? It will take him another two weeks to fully heal up. "
Jiraiya shook his head and said, "No, Hime. I will come back later, I have something important to do now. "Saying this Jiraiya leapt out of the Hospital window and vanished.
Tsunade turned around to see that Kakashi also had vanished.
Shizune, who was also assisting in Naruto's treatment, shook her head in disgust when she saw that not even a single person had come to see how Naruto was doing. Not even his teammate Sakura or anyone from his graduating class had come to enquire about his condition. She wondered how Naruto still felt any loyalty to these people, who didn't seem to give a damn about him. The only one who seemed to be worried about Naruto apart from herself and Tsunade, seemed to be Gaara , who had remained in Konoha till he received news that Naruto was safe. It seemed that Naruto had made a good friend there.
3 Weeks Later
In the Hokage's office
Tsunade shook her head in disgust as she watched Naruto sparring with Iruka in the training field, through the Sandaime's crystal orb. Naruto was being tested to see if he was fit to remain a genin after his injury during the Sasuke retrieval mission.
Turning towards Shizune, who was grading Naruto's written test and asked, " how did he do on the written test, Shizune? "
Shizune shook her head saying, " it is all rubbish, Tsunade sama. I can barely even make out what he has written. I can't understand how he even passed the academy in the first place. "
"His Taijutsu skill is also in the same situation. He seems to have no technique whatsoever. His punches and kicks are sloppy. His speed and strength are subpar. His stamina also seems subpar. He seems unable to even perform the basic Academy three jutsu properly. I can't understand how Sarutobi sensei allowed him to become a genin. He seems to be absolutely hopeless at the Shinobi Arts", Tsunade remarked.
Tsunade gestured to one of the ANBU in her office and said, " call Naruto and Iruka to my office. " and the ANBU sped away to obey his orders.
Tsunade spent the time it took for Naruto to reach his office, cursing her sensei and wondering what he was smoking when he allowed Naruto to become a genin.
Tsunade was shook out of her musings when she saw Naruto entering her office.
Tsunade hated what she was about to do, but she was determined to do it, as she was placing not only Naruto but also all the people in his team in the future in danger, if she allowed an incompetent person to become a shinobi despite her affection for him.
"Hey baachan, why did you call me ? I was showing my awesome Taijutsu skills to Iruka sensei. I was just about to beat him too! " naruto boasted while puffing out his chest.
Tsunade just shook her head at his empty boasting and shouted, " Naruto, shut up nd listen. I saw your fight. You have no technique whatsoever. You are a plain brawler. Your punches and kicks are sloppy. Your speed and stamina are subpar. Your strength is ok, I guess. Your command over the three Academy Jutsu is pathetic.Your basic knowledge as displayed in your written test is pathetic. Simply saying you are not qualified to be a genin. I am sorry, Naruto. But I will have to ask you to hand over your hitaiate. I am removing you from the shinobi forces, effective immediately. "
Naruto felt his entire body almost collapse in shock when he heard the hokage's proclamation. He didn't know what to do, being a shinobi is the only thing he knew. He couldn't even do any other job, as he knew that the civilian population either hated him or feared him. He didn't even have any source of income as he didn't have a family to support him, like his classmates.
Naruto shouted back, " But Baachan, who needs all that boring information. I can fight well. You know that I defeated Neji, Gaara and even injured Kabuto, right. I even defeated Sasuke, before Orochimaru beat me and absconded with him. Please Baachan, give me a chance. I will prove that I deserve to be a shinobi.
To his shock, Tsunade just shook her head, saying " Naruto, you won all those fights only because of the Kyuubi's chakra, which you no longer have. I can't place any shinobi in danger by making them work with your inadequate skills, risking them being killed in field due to your incompetence. But, I will give you one chance, I will conduct another exam in one month. If you pass, I will make you a genin again. But if you fail, then I am afraid that, that will be the end of your shinobi career. Also I will have to stop your access to the shinobi library, as you are no longer a shinobi. But you can take the academy texts to study. I am sorry Naruto, but this for the best. Also, Naruto I would like my necklace back, it is very valuable and many shinobi may attack you for it and you are in no condition to defend yourself. "
Tsunade felt ashamed at her actions as she saw the devastated expression on his face as he handed over his hitaiate and her grandfather's necklace to her.
Tsunade addressed Naruto, last time before he left her office, saying " Naruto, those boring books as you call them are very important. Every Hokage, including me have a vast amount of knowledge on various shinobi and non shinobi topics. The First Hokage was a Taijutsu and Kenjutsu master. He was a master of Mokuton ,Suiton and Doton Ninjutsu. He was a master healer. He was a sage. He was known as The God of Shinobi. "
" The Second Hokage was a Kenjutsu and Taijutsu master. He was a master of Suiton and Raiton Ninjutsu. He invented the earlier version of Hiraishin, the space time jutsu which the Yondaime later modified and which made him a terror on the battlefield. He invented the shadow clone justu and the Edo Tensei. "
" The Sandaime Hokage, was a Taijutsu and Bojutsu master. He had mastered all the five nature releases. He knew how to use all the non bloodline related jutau of Konoha. He was known as The Professor and the Second God of Shinobi. He led Konoha to victory through three shinobi world wars. "
" The Yondaime Hokage, your hero was a master of Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu. He was an unparalleled sealing master. He modified the Hiraishin and became the first person to be given the SS rank in the Bingo book and also the first to be given a flee on sight order in the Bingo book. He single handedly destroyed the Iwa army with his Hiraishin and the Rasengan. "
These are the people you are trying to match, Naruto. If you truly want to become the Hokage, you will have to become like them. Become knowledgeable in a vast variety of topics. Become a monster of a Shinobi, one whom enemies fear to even utter the name of.
You will have to kill hundreds of enemy Shinobi in the service of your village. I know that you have never taken a life despite being a Shinobi for nearly an year. I read your mission reports, about how you always try to go for non lethal blows against enemies, trying to convince them to stop fighting. Your hesitancy to end the life of an enemy may result in death of a comrade in the future. That is not something your fellow Shinobi will agree with.
You have the chance to reinvent yourself as a shinobi and a person, Naruto. Don't waste this chance. Not many people get such a chance. You can't only do things you like and neglect other parts, that is not how a Shinobi functions.
Now, you are dismissed, Naruto. Use this month to prepare for the exam. Also you will have a psychological evaluation to determine if you are fit to be a Shinobi. I have made an appointment for you in two weeks.
A few hours later
On top of the Hokage Monument
Naruto, sat on top of the Yondaime's head, as he pondered his situation and its hopelessness.
He was shook out of his musings, when he felt a soft hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to see Shizune neechan looking at him with a concerned expression on her face. Naruto could no longer hide his frustration, disappointment and sadness and hugged her tightly, bawling his eyes out.
Shizune just held him tightly and rubbed soothingly on his back. "What is the matter, Naruto kun? I know that what Tsunade sama did and said was harsh, but it was the best for everyone. She couldn't risk the life of other Shinobi partnered with you, if your skills are not up to scratch. But, you have one month to bring your skills upto scratch. You should not waste this opportunity, and you must not waste your time moping. From what I hear, that is your teammate Sasuke's role. So, cheer up and go train", Shizune said trying to encourage him. She couldn't bear to see the bright, always cheerful blonde she had come to see as her little brother in such a sorry state.
Naruto hiccuped due to his tears and said,
" Neechan, I don't know how to read properly. They never taught me in the orphanage. I taught myself how to read and write, as best as I could. The Taijutsu technique that baachan said was useless and incorrect was what the Academy instructors taught me in the academy. Even the kawarimi and henge, I learnt on my own by watching them perform it. The instructors used to send me out of the class during all the important classes, even though I hadn't done anything. That was when I started pranking people, thinking that if I was going to be punished anyway, then I would make sure that the punishment would be for something I had actually done, and this way I could get back at some of my tormentors."
Shizune looked on in horror as Naruto told her the reason for his poor performance in the academy. She couldn't believe that the Sandaime allowed this to go on.
" Why didn't you tell this to the Sandaime, Naruto? "
" I complained to the Sandaime a few times, but he just said that I have to study harder, and believed all the lies told by the academy instructors. Even Iruka sensei, despite not treating me like a monster, never bothered to help me out in my studies. "
" After leaving baachan's office I went to Kakashi to ask for his help in training myself, but he brushed me off as usual, saying that he could not train me as I was no longer a genin. As if he trained me when I was on his team. The only thing Kakashi ever taught me was the Tree Walking exercise. Whereas Kakashi taught Sasuke how to use the chidori and many Katon Jutsu, whereas leaving me and Sakura to our own devices, telling us to focus on the basics while he exclusively trained Sasuke."
" Even Jiraiya abandoned me saying that, he had to attend to his spy network and that I no longer had to fear any danger from the akatsuki as I no longer held the Kyubi, proving that the only thing he cared about me was harnessing the Kyubi's power. Even when I held the Kyubi, the only thing he taught me was the rasengan, even that he only showed me each step once, and left me to work it out on my own, without giving any clues on how to do it. To learn how to use the Summoning contract of the toads, he pushed me down a ravine to force me to use the Kyubi's chakra. "
"All the other jounin sensei including Gai, declined to help me saying that they had their own genin to train. My so called friends said that they had their own training to attend to, so they couldn't help me. "
"My teammate Sakura didn't even ask how I was, after staying for two weeks in the hospital from injuries. All she cared was that I couldn't bring back Sasuke. I don't know what else to do neechan. Even Tsunade baachan refused to help me saying that it would be favoritism".
Shizune hugged Naruto and slowly soothed him, while in her mind she was cursing everyone as couldn't believe the atrocious behavior exhibited by Kakashi, Jiraiya and the other jounin sensei and genin.
Shizune made up her mind and with a firm nod to herself, she said , "Naruto, from tomorrow onwards, I will train you for the next
month. Come meet me in training ground 43 tomorrow morning at five. I will make sure that you are more than ready to become a genin by the month's end, but I want your word that you will do your best to follow all my
instructions. "
Naruto exclaimed happily and said, " you have my promise, Neechan. I will do my best. Thank you for agreeing to help me. Love you Neechan. "
Naruto scampered off after hugging Shizune tightly one more time.
Seeing the wide happy smile on Naruto's face at her offer of help, Shizune couldn't contain her own wide smile and said out aloud, " I will not let you down like all the others, otouto. I will do my best to help you become the best shinobi you can. "
"You did a very good thing, Shizune. I would have trained him myself, but the council will whine and complain about favoritism. If he passes the test, I will train him myself and take him as my apprentice. Take care of him Shizune", said Tsunade , who had happened upon the talk between Naruto and Shizune. She was disgusted by the actions of Kakashi,Jiraiya and the instructors at the academy. She was also feeling ashamed at the inaction of her sensei in regards to Naruto and decided to train Naruto herself if he passed the test.
Shizune turned around to address her master, whom she had already sensed and said, "I will train him and will make sure to get him upto scratch, My Lady.
Naruto's apartment :
Naruto entered his apartment and saw the mess inside his apartment.
He knew that he could no longer continue as he was. He also realised that he couldn't afford to rely on any of his so classmates for help, in the future. Both his sensei, Kakashi and Jiraiya had abandoned him in his time of need.
He could only rely on himself and Shizune Neechan's help to pass the test. Naruto vowed to himself that he would prove to everyone who thought that he was nothing without the help of the Kyubi, that even without the Kyubi he could become great. He would prove to baachan that the confidence that she placed in him when she gave him her necklace was not misplaced. He would be known as Naruto Uzumaki and not as just the Kyubi Jinchuuriki.
But first he would have to change everything about himself if he wanted to gain the power to achieve his dream of becoming Hokage and keep his promise to Sakura chan to bring back Sasuke.
Naruto quickly went about cleaning his apartment and threw out the trash. He found his old academy textbooks underneath a cupboard, and dusted them and placed them on his dining table. He quickly took a bath and spent two hours struggling through a text on geography of the elemental nations.
It was while reading through his textbook that he realised that some pages were missing. He immediately knew that it was the work of the academy instructors who didn't want the Kyubi Jinchuuriki to become a Shinobi and therefore sabotaged his education by giving him damaged textbooks and taught him wrong Taijutsu techniques and sent him out of the class when important topics were discussed in class. He was not even in a position to borrow the textbook from anyone as he had no one who would have helped him during his academy years and the academy instructors knew this and took advantage of it, as even the Sandaime Hokage always took their word over his. Naruto decided to ask Shizune Neechan for complete textbooks of the academy the next day morning and went to bed after brushing his teeth, as he needed to be at Training Ground 43 the next day morning.