Naruto wasn't able to catch a break for a while. Most of the time it was work all day, eat a few bowls of ramen, sleep, get up early so Kiana and Nagato could teach her... She didn't have minutes to spare to go to the Chuunin exams, what with Nagato's warnings about her needing to be cautious of both bloodline-stealers and bijuu-stealers.
The days passed quickly, turning into weeks, months, and then finally years.
She didn't think for the next three and a half years to visit the dead - after all, she had abilities that others wanted.
ROOT ANBU tried to nab her on more than one occasion, but she was usually around someone else who could help her defend herself and, of course, her powers she'd gotten from the visits to the dead.
Kurama eased some of her burden by shoving knowledge of the seals he knew of to her forefront whenever she was working with the Fuuinjutsu Corps (who had actually extended a formal apprenticeship to her), knowledge of the 'forbidden' Uzumaki jutsu known as the Ketsueki bunshin - creating a dozen or so copies of herself that was her at the same time, linked to Kurama and herself - helping her with her footwork and even making a clone purely to learn how to dance.
In all this time, she was rushing about, completely forgetting about Uchiha Madara and how she needed to see his viewpoint, to go to Senju Tobirama's past, to see the Yondaime in action, to see Uzumaki Kushina... Naruto needed answers, but she completely forgot about them.
Until her official graduation into a full-fledged Tokubetsu Genin, she completely forgot about the seal.
She was twelve years old and received the made-up rank of Tokubetsu Genin. Only a few jounin were there, the ones who'd helped her out at almost everything. Despite the fact that she had a long life ahead of her, she wanted to rebuild her fallen nation and take on whatever mantle that they needed her to take on.
"Congratulations, Uzumaki Naruto," the Sandaime said, bringing out a specially-made green headband signifying her status as a tokubetsu genin. Her ID was the same, but she had quite a few cards to get into several areas.
In the past three and a half years, she'd gotten more educated than any other person.
No matter how long she had, she would protect Konoha with all her being.
"With that being said, Uzumaki Karin, Uzumaki Tayuya, and Uzumaki Naruto. As all are graduated genin..." The Sandaime trailed off for a second and glared at Kiana. Karin and Tayuya were both technically genin. "...and have had their 43 D-Ranks necessary to complete a C-Rank..." Another filthy look, this time directed at Naruto, who whistled 'innocently'; her number of D-Ranks this year alone amounted up to 670 D-Ranks, after all. "...are to complete a C-Rank in order to qualify for the Chuunin Exams, after which are the jounin exams - no, Naruto, I forbid you as Hokage to ace the Chuunin Exams and then take the jounin exams right after - and this C-Rank will be..."
Please be Tora! Please tell me the cat went up a volcano! Thought all three genin, all of whom had excellent experience with the cat from Hell. It was excellent tracking for the three.
"...A fisherman from Wave."
Instantly, the three became infinitely more serious. Wave. Near Uzushio - or what was left, anyway.
"Okay," Naruto said eventually. "Who's going to be our jounin leader?" Kiana claimed she was far too old to do it, and since Nagato and Konan were technically civilians, they couldn't exactly lead them.
"Kakashi will be escorting you there. Asuma - my son who has been away - will be accompanying you on behalf of Uzumaki Kiana, Uzumaki Nagato, and Konan-san. In case anything goes wrong, he will be there."
Naruto nodded. "Hai, hai!" The mission scroll was handed out.
Hiruzen walked away, smirking inwardly as Tazuna was shown in. Not all C-Ranks were glory missions.
