And this chapter begins the OFFICIAL start of the Naruto series! I just hope I can do it justice….since unlike the last couple of chapters which were memories based on Fillers and my own original content, this is the actual series itself…..Especially since I prefer Part 1 over Shippuden (How many are there that prefer Part 1 over Shippuden like me? XD)
Oh well, here we go!
"You know, even though dad's childhood was horrible, I'm glad he met people like Uncle Shikamaru." Boruto smiled.
"I've noticed, nowadays, they seem really close and I can now see why." Mitsuki added.
"Yeah, while most people never gave him the time of day, Mister Shikamaru and even Mister Choji would try to talk to him and they weren't outright mean to him." Sarada finished as that arose another question in Boruto's mind.
"I wonder, how come we didn't see more of them hanging out." Boruto said, a little sad.
"Based on how Lord Seventh seemed surprised that they actually wanted to hang out with him and even looked a little sad when they left it could be that they were distant friends?" Sarada suggested.
"….Distant friends, huh?" Boruto asked, more to himself than to the Uchiha on his team.
Before Team Konohamaru could discuss any more of the bond between Naruto and Shikamaru, the foggy mist enveloped the team as the next memory started.
Team Konohamaru found themselves in the middle of the Leaf Village with it being early morning.
"I wonder what we're gonna see now?" Mitsuki asked before a groan got the attention of both the sons of Naruto and Orochimaru respectively.
"What's wrong?" Boruto asked as Sarada just buried her face in her hands.
"Just look above." Sarada sighed as she pointed at all the Hokage faces as Boruto and Mitsuki looked to seeing a certain lock of blonde hair scribbling all over the four Hokage faces.
"Is that?" Mitsuki asked as Boruto nearly fell back on his butt from laughing so hard.
"Man that is rich!" Boruto laughed as he got up from wiping a tear from his eye as he and his team ran to the Great Stone Faces where several profane words, swirly symbols and even turd and crap symbols were drawn all over the four Hokage faces.
"Déjà vu…" Sarada muttered, remembering Boruto doing this very same thing years ago with the only difference being the available Hokage faces.
As the team reached the Hokage faces, they noticed the culprit was none other than Naruto Uzumaki himself, something that didn't surprise the three based on everything they had seen in these memories.
"Hahaha!" Naruto laughed, proud of his handiwork. However the team had noticed that rather than the young toddler or child they had gotten accustomed to seeing in the last couple of memories, this Naruto looked closer to their age, being twelve years of age.
"Hey stop causing trouble!" One ninja yelled, tired of Naruto's constant pranking crap.
"Stop doing this!" Another one said.
"You'll pay for this!" A third ninja roared, irate at Naruto's work.
"Look at what he did!" A fourth ninja yelled, wondering why Hiruzen would let such a disrespectful little brat stay in the village.
"And looks like Lord Seventh has drawn a crowd of fans." Mitsuki said with a laugh.
"Shut up you morons! None of you would be able to do anything like this! But I can! I'm incredible!" Naruto bragged in a voice that easily ended whatever patience the ninja had with him as two stepped up to bring him into Lord Hokage so he can get his comeuppance from Hiruzen.
"And he's pissed them off." Sarada dryly noted while Boruto scoffed at his dad when he got done laughing.
"I've done way better than that." Boruto rolled his eyes.
"Quit comparing stupidity!" Sarada roared, smacking Boruto's skull.
"You disrespectful little brat! You just wait til we get our hands on you!" One ninja yelled as he and another ninja jumped right at Naruto only for Naruto to easily get himself away.
"Kiss my ass!" Naruto yelled as the two ninja's faces went red with rage.
"And there they go." Sarada deadpanned as Naruto laughed, sending the two on a goose chase as they chased him around the village.
"Naruto! Come back here! When I get my hands on you!" One of the ninja chasing him with an eyepatch yelled.
"You've crossed the line this time, Naruto!" The second of the ninja yelled as Naruto merely laughed as the two chased Naruto in an attempt to bring him to Lord Hokage only to fail as Naruto was evading them with little to no problem.
"Give it up! You're just bent because you don't have the guts to do what I do! Do ya!? Losers! Wannabees! You'll never catch me, hahaha!" Naruto laughed as that only seemed to fire up the two ninja chasing him even more.
The whole scenario was rather comical to Boruto and Mitsuki as seeing grown trained ninja struggling to catch a child over half their size was pretty entertaining to watch.
"And he doesn't even realize he's painted over his father's face." Mitsuki chuckled pointing to Minato's face.
"Meh I did to my dad's face. Even peed on it." Boruto snickered as Sarada's eyes glittered with a devious glint.
"And didn't she use her Eight Trigrams on you for that stupid shit?" Sarada smirked as Boruto immediately paled, remembering the deadly aftermath of his stupid prank as he gulped before looking down.
The chase lasted for a good ten minutes before Naruto managed to finally evade the two using camouflage.
"Naruto! Hold on!" Both of the ninja yelled right as Naruto threw off the tarp he used to blend into one of the fences.
"These are supposed to be ninja yet they're tricked by an Academy student." Sarada dryly noted.
"Then again Lord Seventh is unpredictable." Mitsuki laughed as Naruto smirked, thinking he was in the clear.
"That was too easy!" Naruto laughed, not noticed a certain scar-faced Chunin behind him.
"Oh yeah Naruto!?" A very irate Iruka yelled, scaring Naruto to the point where he jumped and landed right on his butt in fright.
"And there's the end of that. You got a lot to learn dad." Boruto sighed as Sarada had to be restrained by Mitsuki from whacking his skull, again.
"Where'd you come from Iruka-Sensei? What're you doing here?" Naruto asked with annoyance heavily present in his voice as Iruka shared Naruto's irritated feelings.
"No what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in class!" Iruka snapped before Naruto was eventually restrained and bounded by rope before he was kindly escorted back to the Ninja Academy, courtesy of Iruka where he was dropped in the front of the classroom while the classmates of Naruto looked at Naruto with feelings of either annoyance, amusement or flat out apathy.
"Hmph!" Naruto scoffed as Iruka looked at Naruto with a look of disappointment and disapproval.
"Tomorrow is the Ninja Academy's graduation exam and you've failed it the last two times! This isn't the time for you to be causing trouble!" Iruka exclaimed with a visible vein in his forehead much to Team Konohamaru's shock.
"Wait, dad failed the graduation exam twice?" Boruto asked in disbelief. Yeah the younger version of his dad may have been a bit unorthodox but the fact that he failed twice? His moher was on his butt for the duration he was at home for the two weeks he was home following his very gracious Academy entrance.
"That's weird. I wonder what caused that?" Sarada asked as Mitsuki was the one to come up with an answer.
"With how he's performed in these memories thus far is it too farfetched to assume that he probably took the exam probably when he wasn't ready for them? Not to mention that unlike us, he doesn't have anyone to properly train with." Mitsuki explained as Boruto and Sarada looked down as they realized the snake was right.
"…You have a point…" Boruto dismally muttered while the Naruto in the memory couldn't feel any more opposed to how Boruto and Sarada felt.
"Whatever." Naruto rolled his eyes as that was the last straw for Iruka.
"Fine! Because you missed it, Naruto! Everyone will review the Transformation Jutsu!" Iruka yelled as nearly everyone groaned in dismay.
"Nice one, dad." Boruto snickered.
"I wonder…just what led Lord Seventh to graduate?" Sarada asked.
"Either way, he became a ninja so we know he graduates eventually." Boruto answered as Sakura was the first one to go.
"Alright, Sakura here, let's do it!" Sakura said as she transformed into a perfect replica of Iruka.
"Transformed into me, good." Iruka looked pleased.
"That's my mom." Sarada smiled as Sakura was also pleased at the passing mark she received.
"Yes! I did it!" Sakura beamed before turning to Sasuke, "Sasuke, did you see that!?" Sakura asked in excitement, hoping her crush had noticed her. Naturally Sasuke was uninterested in her, much to Sarada's disappointment.
"Next. Sasuke Uchiha." Iruka said as Sasuke stepped up and made a perfect transformation into Iruka.
"Good. Next, Naruto Uzumaki." Iruka said as Sasuke deactivated his jutsu. Shikamaru and Ino were not pleased with the short blonde however.
"This is a total waste of time, Naruto." Shikamaru scowled at Naruto.
"We always pay for your screw-ups." Ino glared at the blonde as he looked indifferent to their comments.
"Well dad and Old Man Shikamaru definitely don't seem all that close here…" Boruto muttered as Naruto took his step forward as he tapped the top of his goggles as a mischievous smile adorned his features.
"Oh god." Sarada groaned, already recognizing that look in Naruto's eyes after seeing it so many times since they came into these memories.
"Poor mom…" Boruto face-palmed as it looked like this was another instance of his mother wishing his father good luck only for him not to be paying her anymind.
"Transform!" Naruto yelled before transforming not into Iruka but into an older, naked version of him if he were a woman.
"He's definitely improved." Boruto snickered.
"Will you quit comparing your disgusting jutsus already!?" Sarada yelled at her teammate as Mitsuki tilted his head in thought.
"I wonder what'd happen if he made a male version of it." Mitsuki bluntly stated, not paying any attention to the bewildered looks of his teammates, who had those expressions for very different reasons.
Naturally the jutsu worked on Iruka as he fell back with a huge nosebleed, a feat that didn't surprise Team Konohamaru as they had been used to this jutsu being Iruka's weakness ever since they came into these memories.
"CUT THE STUPID TRICKS! THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!" Iruka yelled as he shoved nose plugs in his nose, as the poor Naruto was left to his wrath.
"Man…if only I knew Old Man Iruka was a perv, I coulda used the Sexy Jutsu on him to sway him not to punish us after all that Kagura shit." Boruto muttered.
"You!" Sarada was about to chide her teammate before realizing Boruto may have had a point.
The scene suddenly shifted from the inside of Iruka's classroom to where the Hokage heads were as Team Konohamaru were baring witness to Naruto cleaning the mess he had made earlier that day.
"This sucks, loser." Naruto muttered bitterly, not at all happy about having to clean his handiwork though Iruka was having none of it.
"You're not going home until you clean off every single drop of paint." Iruka sternly said, not caring for Naruto's temper tantrum as Naruto scoffed.
"So what? It's not like there's anyone waiting at home for me!" Naruto looked back down with a scoff as not just Team Konohamaru but Iruka looked to the boy with an empathetic expression in their eyes. It was true. If Naruto had someone at home to care for and look out for them then he would not have to resort to pranks and vandalism for attention.
"Naruto?" Iruka asked with a softened inflation in his tone although Naruto was too angry at Iruka to notice.
"What do you want now, sensei?" Naruto asked although the team knew the 'sensei' part of Naruto's question was more in a mocking or demeaning tone.
"Well…I was just thinking. Maybe after you clean this all up, I could take you out for ramen, the good stuff. What do you think?" Iruka asked as all the anger in Naruto's expression was replaced with a broad grin.
"Now that's some serious motivation! I'll have this clean in no time!" Naruto beamed as he immediately got to finishing his cleaning as both Iruka and Team Konohamaru laughed at the young boy's enthusiasm.
"Say the magic word." Boruto shook his head with a laugh.
"Like mom always told me, the day to a man, is through his stomach." Sarada snorted as eventually Naruto got his work done by Evening time as the two sat down and enjoyed nice, steamy bowls of ramen at Ichiraku.
"Naruto?" Iruka asked as Naruto paused from his eating to acknowledge the Chunin.
"Why would you do that to the Hokage faces? I mean, you know who the Hokage are, don't you?" Iruka asked the young boy who stared at Iruka before slurping down his ramen to answer the scarred ninja.
"Of course I do. Everybody knows. They were the greatest shinobi of their time, right? Undefeated ninja champs? And the Fourth Hokage's the one who saved the village from the Nine Tailed Fox. He was the most amazing…" Naruto said with admiration in his voice for the Fourth.
"If only he knew…" Boruto looked down, wondering how Naruto figured out who his dad was.
"Then why did you?" Iruka asked, not quite understanding Naruto's logic in defacing the stone monuments.
"Because I'm going to be greater than any of them. Me. Naruto, the next Hokage. A ninja legend! Then everyone will have to stop disrespecting me and look up to me! Believe it!" Naruto grinned as Team Konohamaru all smiled at the young boy.
"And he does, ya know!" Boruto grinned.
"It's definitely gonna be one heck of a Hero's Journey to see how he got so strong." Sarada smirked as he wished she could sit down as she had a feeling these memories would definitely be a long ride.
Iruka didn't share Team Konohamaru's impressed feelings as he just looked bewildered.
"Oh, by the way, I kind of want to ask a little favor, sensei." Naruto smiled with his eyes closed, making him look like a small fox.
"You want another bowl?" Iruka asked as Naruto shook his head "no".
"Uh-uh. I uh….wanna I want to try on your headband. C'mon, please!" Naruto put his hands together in a small begging motion, making Team Konohamaru chuckle.
"He looks so dorky." Boruto snickered.
"Well can you blame him? After missing his first two chances to graduate, of course he'd want to know what the object of graduation would feel like." Mitsuki reminded Boruto as the team all smiled as they remembered the feeling of pride and accomplishment when they received their ninja headbands.
"Oh this? No way. You can only wear the Leaf headband when you finally graduate from the Academy and become a ninja. You've got to pass the test tomorrow." Iruka smiled at Naruto who immediately turned his head away in a childish pout.
"That is so uncool!" Naruto spat.
"Is that why you took your goggles off?" Iruka teased as Naruto puffed his cheeks.
"I want another bowl!" Naruto pouted as if he wasn't gonna get to wear Iruka's headband, he was gonna milk him for every cent he was worth! Realizing this, Iruka and Team Konohamaru all chuckled at the young boy.
"Oh dad." Boruto laughed before the scene suddenly shifted to morning as Team Konohamaru found themselves in Iruka's classroom.
"Welp, here we go." Boruto asked, wishing he could sit down.
"We will now start the Final Exam. When your name is called, proceed to the testing room. The final test will be on the clone jutsu." Iruka said as Naruto immediately paled.
"Wait, he still sucks at it?" Boruto asked, just wondering how a jutsu he was so terrible at would later become his Hallmark of ninja abilities.
"I wonder what changed?" Sarada asked as it was eventually Naruto's turn to go.
"C'mon, dad, you got this!" Boruto cheered for his dad even though he couldn't hear him as Naruto gathered the necessary chakra for his jutsu.
"Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled although what he wanted and what came out was two totally different things as the clone Naruto had produced was pale and dead looking.
"And…you don't got this…." Boruto sighed as Naruto quickly turned to Iruka as he hoped that maybe effort alone would have been enough for him to pass. This time, he definitely had to pass!
Although the twitch in Iruka's eyes and the clenching of his jaw quickly made Naruto lose hope.
"YOU FAIL!" Iruka yelled, making Naruto fall over on his head.
"What!?" Boruto and Sarada exclaimed simultaneously.
"That's so weird…if he failed….but wait, when I went to the past, Dad was obviously in the graduating class with everyone who also took the exams here, so what changed!?" Boruto demanded to know as both of his teammates couldn't produce an answer.
"Iruka-Sensei, he's off but his moves weren't bad and he did hang in there and replicate. This is his third try so you know, he really wants to become a ninja. We could cut him a break and pass him." A man with white hair sitting right next to Iruka suggested, much to Naruto's joy.
"Is that how dad made it?" Boruto asked as Mitsuki quickly shook his head.
"No. Putting a clone like that on the battlefield would only get Lord Seventh killed." Mitsuki bluntly stated as Iruka proved Mitsuki's assertion to be correct.
"Mizuki-Sensei, the other students created at least three effective replications. But Naruto could only create one. And look at it, it's pitiful. I can't pass him." Iruka stated with disappointment heavily in his voice as Mizuki looked just as disappointed with Iruka's words as Naruto looked close to tears.
Was his dream to become a Hokage nothing but a pipe dream?
The scene shifted to outside of the Ninja Academy where Team Konohamaru looked to find Naruto under a tree under the same swing set they had gotten accustomed to them seeing. It was almost as if that swing set was a relevant setting in a story.
On the swing, Naruto sat with an expression of utter hopelessness and angst on his face.
"Oh dad…..I'm…sorry…" Boruto apologized, now feeling regret for seeing a multitude of Naruto's failures that ultimately resulted in nothing at the current moment of these memories as he tried reaching for the young boy's shoulders to console him…to let him know that things were all right only to phase right through him.
What didn't help Naruto's mood was two women staring at him, scowls full of hatred and disdain present on their faces.
"Look. Do you see him? It's that boy. I heard he's the one who failed." One of the women with brown hair talked to her friend, not caring if Naruto overheard her.
"Hmph. Well it serves him right. Just imagine what would happen if he became a ninja, I mean he's the boy who-"The woman with black hair muttered as her friend was quick to shut her up.
"These bastards are really pissing me off." Boruto cracked his knuckles, not believing these were the very same people who were literally crying over Naruto when he was thought to have died against Momoshiki and Urashiki.
The sound of footsteps got Naruto's attention as he looked to see none other than Mizuki giving him a kind smile. Immediately Team Konohamaru were on edge.
"I don't trust that guy. He seems too sketchy." Boruto scowled as Sarada and Mitsuki nodded their agreement.
"I agree. Although sketchy is an understatement." Sarada said as Naruto tilted his head in confusion as he put on his goggles.
"Mizuki-Sensei?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"Naruto, why don't you come with me?" Mizuki offered as Naruto decided to follow him, not having anything better to do since he wouldn't be an upcoming ninja.
"Iruka-Sensei's tough but he's not against you." Mizuki tried reasoning with Naruto who vented to him as they sat atop a building that overlooked the entire village.
"Then why? Why only me?" Naruto asked, not believing the Chunin.
"He wants you to be strong with all his heart but that will never happen if he goes easy on you. He's like you, you know…no parents…no family…" Mizuki added onto his previous statement with seemingly sympathy in his voice for the young boy. The tone of which made Naruto feel even more worthless.
"…But this time I really wanted to graduate…" Naruto looked down miserably as Team Konohamaru stated at the boy sadly.
"Oh dad…" Boruto looked down sadly.
"How did he graduate if he failed?" Mitsuki asked as Mizuki chuckled before he turned to Naruto.
"Heh, then I guess I have to tell you." Mizuki smiled as Naruto looked at his superior ninja in question.
"Huh?" Naruto tilted his head in confusion.
"It's a secret but I'm going to let you in on it." Mizuki smiled as Naruto's interest was peaked.
"A secret?" Naruto asked, intrigued as Team Konohamaru glared at the Chunin. What was he planning?
"Believe it or not, there's still a way for you to graduate." Mizuki stated as Naruto was immediately in Mizuki's face.
"What seriously!? What is it!? Tell me! Tell me!" Naruto yelled as Mizuki chuckled before calming Naruto down by putting his hands on his shoulders, setting the young boy down.
"Something about this smells fishy." Sarada shook her head.
"Tell me about it." Boruto agreed as Mizuki cleared his throat before addressing Naruto directly.
"Deep in the Hokage tower there lies a gigantic scroll known as the Forbidden Scroll of Sealing. You can find it in a special room near the Hokage's office. What's special is that there are several high ranked jutsu in it that only elite ninja can use. As someone that plans on becoming Hokage one day, I trust you should have no problem in using such jutsu, right?" Mizuki smiled, a bit too sweetly as Naruto took no notice of this as he was quick to jump at such an opportunity. Maybe his dreams for the future weren't done yet!
"Hell yeah! I'll take that scroll for ya, no problem! Thanks, Mzuki-Sensei!" Naruto immediately jumped off the roof of the building they were on. All the while missing the deadly scowl Mizuki sent his direction.
"That bastard! He's using dad's gullibility to his own advantage and when he gets the scroll he's gonna try to kill him for it!" Boruto spat, wishing he could lay into that Mizuki bastard.
"But as this already happened, all we can do is watch." Sarada reminded Boruto who suddenly gasped in realization.
"What's wrong?" Mitsuki asked.
"Wait a second…so that's what happened!" Boruto noted as his teammates only stared at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Sarada asked as Boruto was actually laughing a little, much to his teammates' bewilderment.
"Back when we were in the Ninja Academy, dad accused me of stealing the Forbidden Scroll only for Old Man Shikamaru to point out how there was someone who tried taking the scroll for power and I pointed out how that person was just horrible and not to compare me to them, dad paled and looked like he was gonna be sick. Huh…I'm surprised I didn't piece it together back then." Boruto shrugged as Sarada just shook her head in disbelief while Mitsuki chuckled.
"Opening up old wounds are we?" Mitsuki joked as Boruto scoffed.
"Oh please." Boruto rolled his eyes before he and his team went after Naruto who reached the Hokage tower by night fall as he snuck through the village. However right as he entered the Hokage tower….
"What do you think you're doing in my house at this hour?" Hiruzen asked as Naruto immediately paled.
"Busted!" Boruto snickered as Naruto immediately tried finding a way out of this before smiled mischievously.
"Sexy Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as Hiruzen was immediately out with a nosebleed.
"Surprise!" Sarada groaned with an eye roll as Naruto eventually reached the room where they kept the scrolls and after around ten minutes of searching, Naruto quickly found what he was looking for.
"Found it!" Naruto grinned before immediately jumped from the room and leapt off into the faraway forests where he wouldn't be found.
"He only found what he was looking for in ten minutes while it took me over five hours to find that memory scroll! What a trip!" Boruto pouted as Mitsuki laughed.
"Guess that means Lord Seventh is a better ninja than you, huh Boruto?" Mitsuki chuckled much to Boruto's chagrin.
"Oh, shut up!" Boruto scowled at Mitsuki as Sarada tilted her head.
"Huh, you know something? You'd think the room for all the scrolls would be guarded yet an Academy student was able to sneak in and take a dangerous scroll with no problem." Sarada blinked as Boruto realized what she was getting at.
"Yeah, same for me. I was in there for hours yet no one came in after me." Boruto shrugged as Sarada came to a conclusion.
"Wow…this village's security really sucks." Sarada muttered as Team Konohamaru followed Naruto to where he sat by an abandoned warehouse as he unfurled the scroll.
"Let's see…the first one is Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu…" Naruto muttered before groaning as he rubbed his head in frustration.
"Ugh! Not this again, it's my worst jutsu!" Naruto groaned in frustration much to Team Konohamaru's amusement.
"Better get your ass on it then!" Boruto snickered, wondering how long it'd be before someone found his father. If they found him, that is.
"Okay…well if I'm gonna be Hokage one day I need to be able to use jutsu from this scroll…." Naruto muttered in slight irritation before slowly getting up and making the hand signs for the jutsu.
"Okay…Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as he tried summoning a clone before his result from earlier in the morning was displayed right before him much to his frustration.
"You know something? With who dad's parents are, why is his chakra control so bad?" Boruto asked as Mitsuki put his hand to his chin in thought.
"It could be because of the Nine Tails inside of him that's what's disrupting his chakra control." Mitsuki surmised as Boruto stared at his teammate.
"You think so?" Boruto tilted his head as Sarada also decided to speak up.
"Not to mention, there's no proper balance with his chakra control and because of him not properly balancing his chakras, that's why his clones are no good. He needs to come up with a happy medium." Sarada noted as Boruto blinked as he realized they were right.
"You know, now that I think about it, dad's movements are pretty sloppy and uncoordinated compared to the dad I fought and trained with in the past." Boruto said as Naruto immediately tried again.
"Again!" Naruto yelled.
"Again! Again!" Naruto yelled as he attempted to try summoning more clones for the better part of around two hours to no avail before he suddenly realized something.
"Wait a second…I think I've realized what I'm doing wrong…Maybe….I'm exerting too much power….maybe…I should calm down when I'm doing it…calm down…and do it…right…" Naruto put his fingers together as he gathered his chakra before smiling broadly.
"I think I can do it! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as over ten clones appeared right by his side, much to his happiness as well as Team Konohamaru's.
"He did it!" Boruto cheered.
"Yes!" Sarada cheered, high-fiving Boruto as Naruto quickly jumped up and down.
"I did it! Did it! Did it! Now let's see…." Naruto muttered before realizing his clones weren't illusions but rather flesh and blood clones.
"Man! He's sure to graduate now if someone could see him!" Boruto smirked.
"If I can make ten, let's see if I can do more!" Naruto beamed as he immediately conjured a hand sign for more clones.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled before a hundred clones suddenly appeared around Naruto.
"A hundred!? In such a short amount of time?" Sarada nearly fell back in shock as Boruto suddenly felt inspired.
"When I get out of here, I'm gonna have dad train me so I can summon more Shadow Clones!" Boruto vowed, just thinking of how much of a badass he could be if he could summon hundreds of Boruto's clones.
"It would definitely be interesting." Mitsuki chuckled as Naruto smiled triumphantly at his accomplishment. He was sure to be a ninja now!
However the exhaustion and strain of using such a big jutsu suddenly hit Naruto like a ton of bricks as he fell to the ground on his knees as he quickly panted, attempting to catch his breath. As he did so, the sound of footsteps suddenly made him look up before he found himself face to face with none other than Iruka who looked less than pleased with Naruto.
"Oh boy…" Sarada could only wonder how irate Iruka was with Naruto.
"It's all over…" Iruka smiled through clenched teeth as Naruto looked actually happy to see Iruka, seemingly not noticed the forced smile through obvious anger Iruka was displaying.
"Hey! About time nosebleed! I found you!" Naruto grinned as that was enough to set off Iruka.
"No you fool! I found you!" Iruka yelled though Naruto only laughed in response along with Team Konohamaru at Iruka's rage though he quickly calmed down when he noticed Naruto's haggard state.
"Got me already. Not bad. You're quick, sensei. I only had time to learn one technique. So listen, Iruka-Sensei. I'm going to show you this amazing jutsu and you're going to let me graduate! Then everything will be okay! That's the way it works, right? Anyone who learns a jutsu from this scroll passes!" Naruto grinned as the confusion was literally written all over Iruka's face.
"Huh? Where'd you get that idea?" Iruka asked, his anger being masked by confusion as he was starting to realize Naruto was set up.
"Mizuki-Sensei told me about it, believe it! He told me where to find the scroll and this place!" Naruto explained as the color started to leave Iruka's face before he quickly pushed Naruto out of the way from incoming Kunai.
"Look out!" Iruka shoved Naruto out of the way as he was quickly impaled in the legs, chest and shoulder with numerous kunai.
"Old Man Iruka!" Boruto yelled as Mitsuki's eyes narrowed at the source.
"Mizuki…" Mitsuki noted as the calm, kind demeanor that was present in his features was now officially gone.
"He's finally shown himself." Sarada glared at the turncoat as he looked at Naruto.
"Naruto! Give me the scroll, now!" Mizuki ordered as Naruto looked utterly lost for words.
"Wait a minute…what's going on here?" Naruto asked to no one in particular as Iruka was quick to pull the Kunai from his chest, legs and shoulders.
"Naruto! Don't let Mizuki get the scroll! It contains forbidden jutsu that could put this village in grave danger. Mizuki used you to get the scroll for himself, for his own power!" Iruka explained as Mizuki looked smug at Naruto who glared at him.
"What's dad waiting on? He should kick his ass!" Boruto glared as Sarada quickly put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's a combination of confusion coupled with realizing he was being used and the realization of his quick shot to graduate from the Academy that's going up in flames that's probably keeping him from acting like he normally would." Sarada said as Mizuki merely chuckled at Iruka's assertion.
"Naruto, Iruka's just trying to scare you because he doesn't want you to have the scroll." Mizuki lied through his teeth as Naruto just looked between the two men, unable and unsure of what to believe.
"Stop lying, Mizuki! Don't let him trick you, Naruto!" Iruka tried warning Naruto who still stared blankly between the two, unsure of what to do.
"Oh I'll tell you who's really lying…" Mizuki chuckled as Iruka's eyes widened in horror.
"No, Mizuki!" Iruka yelled with a vein pulsing through his head.
"They've been lying to you your whole life, Naruto. Ever since the decree twelve years ago." Mizuki said as Team Konohamaru's hearts all dropped as they realized what was coming.
"This must be it…when dad finds out he has the Nine Tails…" Boruto's heart dropped, knowing that was far from a pleasant experience.
"Yeah…." Sarada nodded as she gulped, nervous of what's to come.
"…What decree?" Naruto asked, utterly lost.
"Everyone knows except you. Iruka's trying to hide it from you even now. He'd do anything to shut me up." Mizuki jeered at the complete perplexed expression on Naruto's face.
"What is this decree? Why does everyone know about it?" Naruto asked, curiosity replacing the dread he was feeling.
"Don't tell him! It's forbidden!" Iruka yelled though he was obviously ignored by the turncoat.
"The decree is no one can tell you the Nine Tailed Fox is inside you." Mizuki stated with a dark expression on his face as Naruto could feel his heart stop as all the breath left his body.
"….Huh?" Naruto barely breathed out as he felt his entire world start to spin as he felt like fainting.
"Dad…" Boruto gulped as his and Team Konohamaru's hearts all went out to the young boy.
"The Fox spirit that killed Iruka's parents and destroyed our village has taken over your body. You are the Nine Tailed Fox!" Mizuki finished as Iruka could only glare at the traitor.
"Stop it!" Iruka yelled, wishing he could do anything to shut Mizuki's filthy trap.
"They've all been sneaking around, hiding things from you your whole life. Didn't you think it was strange how they treated you? Like dirt! Like they hated you for just being alive!" Mizuki spat, finding amusement at Naruto's expression as Team Konohamaru saw flashes of the villagers' horrible treatment to Naruto throughout the years.
"Dad, don't listen to him!" Boruto yelled, wishing he could reach his father.
"He's right! You're not the fox, you're its jailor! There's a difference!" Sarada yelled out in agreement as Naruto felt tears sting his eyes as he grit his teeth as chakra started to gather around him, matching his feelings of anger and betrayal as he looked close to having a mental breakdown.
"And that's why you will never be accepted in this village! Even your beloved sensei hates your guts!" Mizuki jeered as he reached for the Shuriken on his back as Team Konohamaru's disdain for this man only seemed to increase.
"Oh no! He's gonna go for Lord Seventh!" Sarada yelled in dread as she watched as Mizuki twirled the Shuriken in his fingers.
"You bastard! Don't you dare touch him!" Boruto yelled as he summoned a clone for a Vanishing Rasengan before throwing it at the rogue ninja only for it to slip right through to him.
"Die Naruto!" Mizuki yelled as he threw the Shuriken at Naruto who could only fall back as he slowly saw the weapon fly towards him, seemingly frozen in fear.
"Lord Seventh!" Sarada yelled.
"Dad!" Boruto yelled as he tried pushing Naruto out of the way, only to phase right through him. Boruto's heart fell as the projectile seemed to slowly etch towards Naruto, seemingly in slow motion. Just as it was a hair's length from reaching him….
"NARUTO! GET DOWN!" The voice of Iruka-Sensei yelled as Naruto put his arms behind his head, not knowing how that would help but was seemingly ready to accept his death. After all…it's not like too much of anyone would miss him…
However…he opened his eyes as something wet and sticky hit his cheek. The metallic smell was blood….but not his blood…Iruka's blood…..
That's right…Iruka had taken the blow from Iruka directed towards Naruto as his back was impaled by the wide, metallic object.
Boruto's eyes had widened as it was very reminiscent to how his father had protected him against Momoshiki….
Sarada's eyes were also widened as this moment was dangerously similar to when Sasuke had protected her from Shin's attack.
Although Mitsuki couldn't understand his teammate's feelings, he at least had empathy for Iruka and Naruto and as he surveyed the scene he raised an eyebrow at Mizuki's expression. It was almost as if…there was some deep history between the two men…Almost as if he were sorry that he had impaled an old friend….
"….W-why?" Naruto managed to find his voice as Iruka bit his lips.
"Because…we're the same…..when I lost my parents, no one seemed to care. They didn't have time for me. They just forgot I was there. My grades dropped. I became the class clown. I just wanted them to see me and to know my name. My schoolwork wasn't good enough to get their attention so I did crazy things and I had to pay for it….It was hard…I know that's how you feel Naruto….You feel lonely and it hurts inside….and I could have been there for you more. I let you down…I'm sorry. No one should have to suffer like that. No one should have to be alone like that…" Iruka sobbed through his words as Team Konohamaru saw flashes of Naruto's first meeting with Iruka as his home room teacher followed by his subsequent harsh treatment of Naruto as Naruto gave his sensei a look of utter disbelief.
Boruto and Sarada were teary-eyed at the Chunin's words.
"Old Man Iruka…don't blame yourself…at least you're now…" Boruto wiped his eyes.
"Yeah…that's what counts." Sarada sniffled through her tears while Mizuki shared none of these feelings of sadness as he loudly laughed at the two, mainly Naruto.
"Don't make me laugh! Iruka always hated you! He was orphaned because the Nine Tailed Fox killed his parents and that beast is now inside you! He'd say anything to get that scroll from you!" Mizuki jeered as Team Konohamaru glared at him.
"Oh patronize him, why don't you!?" Sarada glared, wishing she could shut this asshole up with Genjutsu.
"I'm sick of this asshole! Dad should just kick his ass." Boruto muttered although he knew his father was in no mood for that right now as he looked at Mizuki and then Iruka.
Naruto didn't look angry or even sad. He just looked….exhausted….
Naruto then took off without a word, ignoring the shouts of Iruka as he continued running before coming to a tree as he quickly took a stop behind the tree as he didn't even know what to say.
"…I-I'm…a monster….." Naruto began as he looked down as he looked at his hands while tears built up in his eyes.
"Is there….anyone….that won't see me as a monster….? Why….is it just….me?" Naruto bit his lip as he wouldn't let himself cry. He wouldn't.
Team Konohamaru's hearts went out to the young boy as he let out his frustrations. No child should feel so unworthy and unloved.
"Dad, don't listen to that rat bastard Mizuki. You will find your own way and become someone beloved and loved by the village." Boruto said as Sarada looked down.
"To find out everyone knew about your darkest secret and not to tell you and just let you think it was just you all your life is taxing to anyone…even to someone as bright as Lord Seventh. He must no doubt feel betrayed and hurt…" Sarada said as Mitsuki was silent.
"I…" Naruto was about to say before he heard voices….two of them.
"You're a fool. Why are you protecting that freak? He's the one who wiped out your family!" Mizuki spat as Naruto peaked his head from behind the tree he was hiding behind
"I don't care what you say, you're not getting your hands on that scroll." Iruka argued back as his voice was enough to make Naruto turn his head back around with a blank expression as it was uncertain to know what he was thinking.
"Thank god, Old Man Iruka's here." Boruto sighed, practically saying the thoughts on his teammates.
"As if you could stop me. Don't you get it? Naruto is just like me." Mizuki smirked with absolution in his voice while Iruka only gazed at him.
"How's that?" Iruka decided to humor the fool.
"He wants the scroll for his own power and his own vengeance. That's how beasts are. He'll pour all his rage into the scroll and destroy everything." Mizuki stated with a matter of fact tone in his voice, much to Team Konohamaru's fury.
"I wish I could show you a beast you piece of sh-"Boruto spat.
"You're right." Iruka said as Boruto and Sarada's eyes widened in surprise.
"No way…it can't be." Sarada couldn't believe it. Was Iruka honestly agreeing with this idiot?
"No. Old Man Iruka wouldn't do that." Boruto said as Mitsuki was quick to agree with his teammate.
"He's right. Mister Iruka and Lord Seventh are too close nowadays." Mitsuki agreed with Boruto.
Although if Sarada was surprised, Naruto looked utterly defeated as he buried his face in the scroll.
"So it's true…Iruka-Sensei never believed in me….He thinks I'm some beast…some sort of…freak!" Naruto muttered as he looked close to tears before…..
"That is how beasts are. But that's not who Naruto is!" The voice of Iruka declared as Naruto's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't believe it. Was someone actually sticking up for him?
"Told ya so!" Boruto smirked as Sarada looked down with a blush.
"He's nothing like that! Naruto's one of a kind, works hard and puts his whole heart into it! Sure he messes up sometimes and everyone jumps on him but his suffering only makes him stronger. That's what separates him from being a beast. So you're wrong, he's nothing like the Nine Tailed Fox, he's Naruto Uzumaki of the Village Hidden in the Leaves!" Iruka pronounced as the Boruto and Sarada found themselves moved by his words.
"Old Man Iruka…" Boruto teared up as Sarada quickly wiped her eyes, ashamed at thinking Iruka was turning against Naruto like this Mizuki clown.
However, none were more teary-eyed than Naruto who was crying, not tears of sadness but tears of happiness as he had finally found someone who had acknowledged him.
Mizuki stared at Iruka in disbelief before jeering at him.
"Iruka, I was going to save you for later but I changed my mind. You're finished!" Mizuki yelled as he was going to make a pincushion out of Iruka.
"Dad! Quit crying and go save him!" Boruto yelled and almost as if he heard heard, Naruto cut Mizuki off with a harsh kick to his jaw, sending the Shuriken several yards before everyone.
"Not bad, for a little punk." Mizuki glared as Naruto fixed the traitor with a deadly glare.
"If you ever lay a hand on my sensei, I'll kill you!" Naruto spat as the Team Konohamaru stared proudly at the young boy, ready for him to give this traitor his just desserts.
"Such big words. I can completely destroy you with a single move!" Mizuki bragged as the three genin all rolled their eyes.
"This guy just loves to hear himself talk." Sarada scoffed as Naruto made a certain hand sign.
"Take your best shot, fool. I'll give it back to you a Thousand Fold!" Naruto spat as Mizuki glared at the young boy.
"Let's see you try! Show me what you can do, Nine Tailed Fox!" Mizuki said as Naruto smirked.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as over a Thousand Clones surrounded the Vicinity.
"Good god! How many clones are there!?" Boruto yelled as Sarada activated her Sharingan.
"Over a thousand!" Sarada answered as even Mitsuki looked shock.
"Well we can see why that's Lord Seventh's Hallmark jutsu." Mitsuki noted as Iruka looked nothing short of proud while Mizuki fell back on his butt as he tried searching a way out to no avail.
"If you're not coming! We're gonna come after you!" Naruto grinned as he and the clones all rounded on the traitor and the "fight" lasted for around ten minutes before the clones and Naruto eventually got bored as the traitor was left in a bloodied and bruised heap.
"Huh…and here I expected more…" Mitsuki said with a hint of disappointment in his voice as Team Konohamaru nodded in agreement.
"Hehe…sorry I kinda got carried away….you okay, Iruka-Sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Y-yeah…" Iruka answered before managing to smile at the young boy despite the pain he was in as he looked deep in thought before opening his eyes as he looked at Naruto.
"Hey Naruto. Come here a minute. I've got something I want to give you." Iruka said as Naruto looked confused.
"Huh? Why? What is it?" Naruto asked as Iruka laughed.
"Just do it." Iruka smiled as Naruto shrugged as he made his way over.
"Now close your eyes." Iruka said as Naruto gave Iruka a puzzled look before doing just that.
After a small while, Naruto started to get impatient.
"Sensei, how much longer?" Naruto asked as Iruka was nothing short of amused.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now." Iruka smiled as Naruto opened his eyes to find Iruka not wielding his headband anymore as he held his old green goggles in his hands.
It was then that both Naruto and Team Konohamaru realized what was happening.
"This must be when…" Boruto gasped as the sun slowly rose, as if to commemorate the happy moment.
"Congratulations, you graduate!" Iruka smiled as Naruto's expression was completely and utterly blank. It was impossible to know what was going through his mind.
"And to celebrate, we're going out for ramen tonight!" Iruka declared proudly as Naruto looked close to tears as his lips trembled before…
"Iruka-Sensei!" Naruto tackled Iruka in a tight hug as the two were happy for the future coming ahead…
Little did either of the two know that the legend of Naruto was slowly beginning….
As Team Konohamaru shared Naruto's feelings of happiness and achievement, little did any of them notice a small orange fox with nine tails perched on a tree branch not too far from where they were.
"Those brats…I hope they know what they're getting themselves into…" As the voice was none other than Kurama as he was in a cute form only one could dream about.
Now one could only wonder what Kurama was doing in Naruto's memories?
Well since he was now Naruto's unofficial protector, Kurama would always keep a watch for Naruto against any unwelcome visitors in case they tried any sort of harm against him.
Although since he knew Team Konohamaru had no ill will with the memory scroll they picked up, he didn't threaten to eat them as he knew they weren't bad, even the son of that snake bastard Orochimaru whom Kurama thoroughly enjoyed handing him his ass. He couldn't wait until they got to that particular memory. And as such, he would act as a guide of sorts for the three.
"I can only wonder how that Uchiha girl will react upon seeing Sasuke's….treachery…" Kurama pondered remembering the Uchiha drama during all that Shin mess before shrugging.
"Oh well, they'll cross that bridge when they come to it." Kurama said as the bluish-purple foggy mist enveloped the three, ending the memory.
The journey has officially began!
Hopefully I can do this series justice and since I've officially started the series, I've started a small little bet with myself!
It's a challenge of whether I can get through all the Part 1 Events before the end of 2020! Can I reach it? We shall see!
And I know some people might notice this chapter was shorter than the previous ones BUT since this is the start of Naruto's journey I figured this would suffice since I didn't wanna place too MUCH into one chapter! But I PROMISE the following chapters WILL get longer! Especially the farther I get down into the series….
And also….even though I had Shikamaru and Teuchi be close with Naruto in my stories, how I've interpreted their bond with Naruto is that while they were close, it was really Iruka that took the initiative to get to know Naruto. That's how I've always seen that bond while Shikamaru and Naruto were more or less distant friends and while Teuchi and Naruto had more of a customer-employee relationship.
And yeah, we all know Kurama wouldn't let just anybody in Naruto's head! His role should be fairly obvious and we just gotta love Naruto and Iruka's bond! Thank you, Iruka!
I hope you all enjoyed Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 will be coming out NEXT Wednesday, January 29th so expect it then and until then please enjoy this chapter, leave me your thoughts and I'll see you lovely folk same time next week! ^_^
