Iruka lay on his back in his bed, looking out of the window above him at the full moon, replaying an old conversation with the Hokage in his head.

"Iruka." Lord Third had begun.

"What is it, Lord Hokage?"

"I know how you feel, but... Naruto also grew up without the love of his parents... like you."

A memory of the day his parents died flashed in his mind, as if it had only been recently that the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon had attacked the Village, and that he was carried away from the danger, protesting loudly.

"Stop it! Let me go! My parents are still fighting!"

Suddenly, a pounding on his door interrupted his thoughts and he opened his eyes.

"Wake up, Iruka-sensei!" Mizuki's voice came from behind the door.

Iruka hopped out of bed quickly and opened the door to see Mizuki, who looked panicked.

"What's the matter?"

"Come to Lord Hokage's immediately!" Mizuki explained hurriedly. "I heard that Naruto stole the Scroll of Sealing."

Iruka's eyes widened and the color drained from his face. "The Scroll of Sealing?!"

Naruto sat deep in the woods near an abandoned wooden shack and opened up the large scroll before him, looking it over with the moonlight illuminating the paper.

"Hm... let's see..." He muttered as he began to read. "The first Jutsu is... Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu?"

He smacked his forehead and groaned loudly.

"What?! Already a Jutsu I'm no good at?"

Natsumi's eyes fluttered open as loud arguing broke through the silent darkness.

"—I swear, if you've killed her, I am going to cut all of your hair off!" Sena prodded Kiri's chest with a hard look. "You went way too far! You'd already told her that you were beaten. Using your Genjutsu like that was too much."

Kiri raised her hands. "Hey, I said I was sorry! I released it right away, so it's not really my fault!"

"She's just a kid! You shouldn't have done it in the first place."

"Hey, I just wanted to test her. I didn't know she would pass out like that."

Natsumi blinked slowly and lifted her head from the pillow and saw the two bickering back-and-forth.

"G-Guys?" She sat up slowly and rubbed her head. "Where am I? What happened?"

They turned to her immediately and Kiri wrapped her in a tight hug. "You're okay!" She rubbed her cheek on Natsumi's. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to go too far. I'm so glad that you're alright."

Natsumi gasped and then smiled. "I-I'm fine. But you're hugging too tightly."

Kiri let her go and let out a sigh. "Sorry."

"You had us really worried." Sena sat on the edge of the bed. "After Kiri released you from the Genjutsu, you wouldn't wake up."

Kiri scratched her cheek as Natsumi looked back at her. "Sorry." She apologized again. "As it turns out, you're just really weak to Genjutsu."

"I am?"

Sena nodded. "Some people are innately born with high resistance to it. Like Kiri." She motioned toward the woman. "Then, you have the average people, who can learn to become more resistant through training."

"And then there's you." Kiri crossed her arms. "Apparently some people are born with an extreme susceptibility to Genjutsu. And, according to several different experts, you're one of them."

Natsumi's cheeks warmed and she looked down at her hands. "I failed the mission, right?"

Sena blinked and shook her head. "No, no, you—"

"Technically, yes." Kiri interrupted, holding up a finger. She lowered it and smiled sheepishly when Sena shot her a look. "So, the mission to rescue the target was technically a bust, but I was primarily testing your tracking. You did a great job. Don't feel bad."

"You did really well." Sena smiled and gave her a quick, one-armed hug.

"T-Thanks." Natsumi smiled faintly. "So... uh..." She laughed awkwardly. "How long was I unconscious for?"

Sena and Kiri looked at each other and then Kiri chuckled under her breath. "W-We'll just say a long time and leave it at that. What matters is that you're fine."

Natsumi turned to look out of the window of the hospital room and gaped. "T-The moon? It's already night?!"

Sena patted her head and shrugged. "Kiri's right; what matters is you're finally awake and that Kiri knows not to do it again, right?" She glowered at her senior.

"Oh, damn." Kiri muttered, ignoring Sena, and then met Natsumi's eyes. "I almost forgot... The Hokage wanted to see you as soon as you woke up."

"Huh?" Natsumi felt the color drain from her face. Is this about... that?

Sena's eyes widened. "Oh, yeah! If you're feeling up to it, you have to go there as soon as possible. It's about your brother."

Natsumi's eyes widened. "What? Naruto? Why didn't you say something sooner?!"

She hopped out of the bed quickly, her legs buckling, and Kiri carefully steadied her. "Hey, go easy now. You were blacked out for a while."

Natsumi shrugged her hands away and then rushed to the door.

"Sorry, but I have to go! It was nice meeting you!"

"Lord Hokage!" A ninja clenched his fists and scowled. "We can't forgive him! This is not just a mere prank!"

"The Scroll is a dangerous item that the First Hokage sealed!" Another one shouted, and the crowd around him filled the air with angry shouting and muttering. "Depending on its use... it will be a major disaster if it's taken out of the village!"

Iruka clenched his jaw and balled his hands into fists. "Naruto... why would you do something like this?"

The Hokage released a puff of smoke from his lips and nodded.

"Yes, I agree. Bring Naruto here at once!" he commanded.

"Yes, sir!" The assembled Ninja snapped to attention and then quickly left to search for the boy.

Iruka stopped on a rooftop, panting, as he looked at the Village below.

"Where did you go, Naruto?" He thought, his chest tight and his stomach uneasy.

Mizuki moved quickly through the village as he searched for Naruto with a smirk on his face.

"I'll tell everyone in the Village about this and eliminate Naruto... and then the Scroll of Sealing will be mine!"

Naruto sat in the open field near the shack with the scroll slung over his back, panting heavily from training. Slowly, footsteps approached and his eyes caught a glimpse of the shadow that loomed over him and he glanced upward.

Iruka stood over him, bent down to rest his fists on his thighs as he breathed heavily to catch his breath.

"Hey you, Naruto!" His eyes narrowed at his pupil, who smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head and laughed.

Iruka straightened and Naruto stood.

"You found me..." He chuckled. "And I've only learned one Jutsu."

Iruka froze and looked down at him. "He's been practicing the Jutsu...until he's become this exhausted and dirty?"

Naruto lowered his arm and his eyes grew in excitement.

"Listen, listen! I'm gonna show you this amazing Jutsu! You're gonna let me graduate if I can do it! Isn't it true that I can graduate if I can do one of the Jutsu written here?"

Iruka's eyes widened and his mouth opened in surprise. "W-Who told you that?"

Naruto raised his arms, moving them as he spoke, still grinning in pride. "Mizuki-sensei. He told me about the scroll and this place..."

Iruka stared at him, unable to move or speak. An image of Mizuki surfaced in his mind and his stomach twisted into knots.

"Mizuki did?!"

Before he could reply, Iruka turned quickly to see a volley of Kunai launched at them. Instinctively, he shoved Naruto out of the way but was struck by the blades instead, some of them piercing his legs and pinning him to the building behind him. He drew in a sharp, hissing breath in pain.

"I'm impressed that you found this place." A voice called out to him. Iruka looked up at the figure, knowing the voice easily.

"I see now... how it is." He spoke slowly with his breathing ragged.

Mizuki crouched on a thick tree branch with his left hand resting on the truck. He carried two enormous Shuriken on his back and looked down at Naruto.

"Naruto, give me that scroll." He smirked.

"Wait... Wait..." Naruto's eyes were wide and his mouth gaped as he looked from Iruka's injuries to Mizuki. "What's going on here?"

Iruka huffed and a line of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he tore himself away from the wall and removed the Kunai from his leg.

"Naruto! Never give him that scroll!" He glared at Mizuki, breathing raggedly as he clenched his jaw. "It's a dangerous object that contains forbidden Ninja Jutsu. It was sealed. Mizuki used you in order to get it for himself!"

Mizuki straightened to a stand, still smirking as he put a hand on his hip.

Naruto glared and his body went rigid as he stared at Mizuki. "W-What?"

"Naruto," Mizuki chuckled. "Iruka is only afraid of you holding that scroll!" He held out his hand to the boy.

"Huh?" Naruto's body relaxed and turned his head to Iruka.

"What are you saying, Mizuki?" Iruka narrowed his eyes at Mizuki and turned to Naruto. "Don't let him fool you, Naruto!"

Mizuki laughed coldly. "I will tell you the truth, Naruto."

Iruka froze for a moment and recovered quickly. "Idiot! Don't do that!" He barked back.

Mizuki rested one hand on his knee, ignoring Iruka and looking at Naruto. "After an incident twelve years ago, a rule was created."

"A... rule?" Naruto kept his eyes on his senior with a strange chill filling his body.

"That is, Naruto, a rule everybody but you knows."Mizuki glowered at the boy.

"Except me?" Naruto gasped. "What is it?"

"Stop it, Mizuki!" Iruka yelled, but Mizuki's face darkened.

"The rule forbids anyone from revealing that you are actually the Demon Fox Spirit!"

Naruto's eyes widened and his heart raced. "H-Huh?"

"You are actually the Demon Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit," Mizuki continued and his voice gradually rose to a yell. "The one who killed Iruka's parents and destroyed our Village!"

"Stop it!" Iruka snapped and clenched his fists.

Naruto's body went completely rigid with his mouth frozen open. His hands trembled as he listened to Mizuki's explanation, recalling how everyone in the village treated him, even going so far as to scold their children and keep them from playing with him at the playground.

"Everyone has been deceiving you ever since." Mizuki twisted grin stretched his features as he watched Naruto reeling before him. "Didn't you find it strange? Why everyone hated you so much?"

Naruto trembled as his eyes filled with tears and spilled over. "No... no..." He clenched his fists and two trails of tears fell down his cheeks. "No! No! No!"

He closed his eyes, shaking more noticeably now, and Iruka stared wide-eyed as a ring of visible Chakra formed around Naruto on the ground, emitting from his body out of rage.

"Naruto..." Iruka opened his mouth, but no words would come.

"Nobody accepts you!" Mizuki yelled at him with a venomous tone. "That's why Iruka hates you so much!"

Iruka flinched as the wound in his leg throbbed with pain and he pressed his hand over the wound to slow the bleeding with gritted teeth. "Keh..." He groaned and gripped his leg harder as another memory of the Hokage returned to him.

"Iruka... Naruto grew up without the love of parents. Everyone avoids him like the plague after what happened. That's why he keeps misbehaving. It's the only way for him to get any attention or acknowledgment. He pretends to be tough, but inside he is really hurting. Even with a twin sister, he is filled with loneliness."

Mizuki retrieved a shuriken from his back and spun it above his head as he did.

"Die, Naruto!" He yelled and launched the weapon at the boy.

Naruto fell backward in shock, unable to move as he stared at the shuriken for a moment and then quickly got up and attempted to run. His body moved slowly from his exhaustion and training and he stumbled.

"Naruto! Get down!" Iruka shouted and quickly moved in front of him, shielding him with his own body. Naruto covered his head with his arms, shaking uncontrollably.

Blood spurted as the weapon pierced flesh and Naruto stared up in horror at Iruka and the giant shuriken plunged into him.

Iruka coughed blood and gasped for air, trembling as he struggled to hold himself up over Naruto as a shield.

Mizuki glared and gritted his teeth at his miss and Iruka's sacrifice.

Naruto stared unblinkingly at his teacher as he shook. "W-Why...?" He asked in a quivering voice.

"...Because you and I are the same." Iruka answered slowly. "After my parents died, nobody paid any attention to me or gave me any support. I wasn't a good student in school. I was the class clown... because I wanted people to notice me. I couldn't get noticed through excellence, so I kept doing stupid things."

Iruka choked again and more blood dripped from his mouth and fell around Naruto, a few drops landing on his face.

"It was so hard..." Iruka muttered as his eyes moistened and spilled over. "Isn't that right, Naruto? You felt so lonely... right? And you suffered inside, right? I'm sorry, Naruto... If I had been more responsible, maybe you wouldn't have suffered so much."

Naruto's lip trembled as he sat up and was unable to look away from Iruka.

Mizuki laughed from his branch, quietly at first and then louder and angry.

"Don't make me laugh! Iruka has always hated you, ever since you killed his parents! He's just saying all that to get the Scroll of Sealing back!"

Naruto looked between the two and quickly got up, running away into the woods with his hands balled.

"Naruto!" Iruka called out after him but was unable to move. "Naruto!"

Mizuki hopped down from the tree and squatted for a moment as he smirked. "He's not the type of kid who will change his mind. He will take revenge against our village using that scroll!"

Mizuki stood and approached Iruka slowly. "Didn't you see his eyes? Those are the eyes of a Demon Fox."

Iruka took in a breath and reached behind him, dislodging the weapon from his back and gasping in pain. Then, he managed to stand on unsteady legs and turn to Mizuki with a scowl.

"No... Naruto i-isn't like that at all!" Iruka glared and threw the Shuriken at his opponent. Mizuki dodged easily and scoffed as it whirred by and stuck itself into a tree behind him. Iruka staggered forward and nearly fell to his knees.

"All I want to do is kill Naruto and get the scroll." Mizuki chuckled. "I'll take care of you later."

Iruka forced himself to a stand as Mizuki vanished, wavering as he regained his balance.

"I-I won't let you..." He muttered under his breath.

"Well, well." The Third Hokage muttered as he gazed into the glass sphere before him, watching the encounter between the teachers. "Mizuki has a big mouth!"

He watched as Naruto dashed through the trees with his eyes burning with rage and tears.

"Naruto feels worse than he's ever felt." He thought and released a puff of smoke, chewing thoughtfully on his pipe. "At this rate, he might unleash the power locked up inside of him. The Scroll of Sealing is now with him... there's a slight chance that he might actually release the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit sealed inside of him!"

He sat up straighter with a grim expression on his face.

"If that happens..." He gazed back into the ball and his mouth formed a hard line. "Who knows how much damage it will cause?"

"N-No..." A quiet voice interrupted his thoughts and he turned.

"Natsumi..." His eyes widened slightly as she stood stiffly with her face contorted in shock. "How long have you been there for?"

Her eyes remained fixed on the crystal ball. The Hokage softened as he noticed that she was trembling.

"I-Is it... is it true?" Natsumi's voice quivered and she blinked finally and met the old man's eyes. "Is Naruto really... the Nine-Tailed Fox?"

Hiruzen let out a long breath and motioned for her to come closer. Her body remained frozen in place.

"Mizuki was wrong to tell him... that rule was put in place for a reason." He spoke quietly.

Natsumi's eyes filled with tears and spilled over. "I said, is it true?!" She rose her voice and her hands shook more noticeably.

"Natsumi..." He paused, standing to walk over and place a hand on her shoulder as he met her eyes. "The answer to that is complicated. Will you allow me to explain?"

She pulled away from his grasp and shook her head quickly.

"Naruto is in trouble... I have to help him."

"N-Natsumi—"

She turned and rushed out of the room.

Naruto, I'm coming! Don't let him catch you!

The Hokage sighed and returned to his chair and watched Naruto in the glass sphere.

"I suppose there's nothing to be done about it now. They already know the truth... if only it could have been postponed until they were older..." He chewed on the end of his pipe. "All we can do now is hope for the best."

Iruka quickly bounded in the trees, pushing his body faster and faster beyond its limits and the pain until a blur of orange came into view.

"I've found him!" Iruka drew closer to Naruto, who was frantically moving faster and consumed by his emotions. "Naruto!"

Naruto turned his head and saw Iruka closing in.

"Everything Mizuki said was a lie! Give me that scroll, quick! Mizuki is after it!"

Naruto glared and landed on a branch, shooting forward hard and striking Iruka in the stomach. Iruka spluttered and coughed and was sent flying by the force. His wounds tore open further and blood continued to seep from them.

Naruto landed on his feet and slid to a stop, glaring at the body as it crashed to the ground, and panted.

"It can't be..." He muttered to himself. Naruto pulled the scroll from behind his back and held it tightly in his arms, pressing his back against a tree before he slid down and fell hard on the earth.

"Why is it, Naruto?" Iruka struggled to get up, then turned his head to Naruto with an icy glare. "How... did you know I wasn't Iruka?"

Mizuki glowered and was enveloped in a cloud of smoke as he transformed back to himself.

Naruto chuckled and met the man's gaze, returning his glare. Then, his body also became surrounded by smoke to reveal the real Iruka sitting in his place.

"Because I'm Iruka." His lips twitched upward in a smirk.

Natsumi rushed through the woods as fast as she could with tears flowing from her eyes as she replayed Mizuki's words.

"You are actually the Demon Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit! The one who killed Iruka's parents and destroyed our Village!"

"Didn't you find it strange? Why everyone hated you so much?"

"Nobody accepts you!"

Natsumi wiped her face as she continued forward.

It can't be true! Naruto isn't a demon! Naruto is a person, like me! He's not a monster... he would never hurt anyone!

Her lip quivered as, one by one, memories replayed. Parents tugging their children away from her and Naruto at the playground. Adults whispering as they went by and glaring as if they were no better than wild dogs.

It can't be true! Natsumi stopped on a branch, choking back a sob. It's not... It can't be.

She stared down at her shaking hands. If Naruto is the Demon Fox... then what am I? We're twins... does that mean that I'm a monster, too? Why aren't I the monster?

Natsumi rubbed her sleeves on her face and bit her lip. Why couldn't I have been the monster instead? Naruto doesn't deserve it... he's a good person. He hasn't done anything wrong.

Her stomach twisted as her heart thumped in her chest. It's not fair... why do people have to be so horrible to Naruto? He's not a Demon Fox. He can't be.

She shook her head quickly. I have to hurry! He's in trouble!

She shot off again, moving tree-to-tree until she saw a small clearing with two adult figures. Landing quietly, she hid behind a thick trunk and peered out at the two figures.

It's Iruka-sensei and Mizuki!

Her eyes widened at Iruka's wounds and Mizuki's look of absolute bloodlust.

This is bad... I have to help him! She trembled and her face paled. I can't move! I...

She swallowed as she looked at Mizuki's face expression again.

He looks like... a monster.

Mizuki stood and dusted himself off. "I see." He put his hands on his hips and stepped toward Iruka. "What's in it for you to protect the one who killed your family?"

From behind a tree, Naruto carefully peered out to watch as he caught his breathe and remained out of sight.

"I'm not going to let an idiot like you have the scroll." Iruka hissed as his wounds throbbed and oozed.

"You're the idiot. Naruto is the same as me." Mizuki laughed.

"The same?" Iruka asked with a steely gaze.

"Anyone can do whatever he wants once he has the scroll. There is no way that monster, that Fox Spirit, won't take advantage of the power of that scroll!"

"You're right..." Iruka mumbled.

Naruto's eyes widened and he felt ice flood his veins as he listened, then he lowered his head and gripped the scroll tighter.

"I guess it was true all along!" He thought bitterly. "Iruka-sensei never cared for me at all!"

"... if he was the Demon Fox Spirit." Iruka finished and Naruto blinked and raised his head. "But Naruto is different! I know that he is an exceptional student. He works very hard, and he's single-minded and clumsy at the same time. No one accepts him, but he knows the meaning of human suffering. He is not the Demon Fox Spirit."

Iruka paused and furrowed his brows. "He's Naruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf Village!"

Naruto held the scroll closer, unable to contain his tears anymore and they fell fast and soaked the front of his jacket. He sniffed and felt his eyes gush harder on their own.

Mizuki scoffed and retrieved the second shuriken from his back and held it at his side. "You're so gullible, Iruka. I was going to take you down later, but I've changed my mind."

He spun the shuriken and drew it back, pushing off the ground to rush at Iruka. "Die!"

Iruka lowered his eyes but a small smile remained on his face. "I guess this is the end for me..."

Before his strike could land, Naruto erupted into view and struck him. The unexpected force knocked him back a considerable distance and the shuriken missed its mark and instead flew off in an arc away and deeper into the forest.

Iruka's eyes widened as he saw Mizuki finally land and Naruto set safely down on the ground in front of him.

"Naruto?!" Iruka's mouth came open as he watched the boy stand.

"You surprised me there, freak." Mizuki spat and pushed himself off the ground and turned to Naruto.

Naruto's expression darkened and he rested one end of the scroll on the ground, clutching the other end tightly.

"If you ever lay a hand on Iruka-sensei, I'll kill you!"

"Shut up!" Mizuki hissed. "I can take care of a kid like you with a single blow!"

"Why don't you try, then?" Naruto released the scroll and brought his hands together for form a seal. "I'll strike you back a thousand-fold!"

"Let's see you try!" Mizuki cried out. "Show me what you can do, Demon Fox!"

"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto announced and Iruka's eyes widened further as the entire area filled with copies of Naruto, too many for him to count.

"Naruto! You've... Those aren't just images... but actual clones! That's a highly advanced Ninjutsu!" He smiled as he looked to Naruto.

Mizuki turned frantically, staring at the army as he stammered.

"What's the matter?" The clones said in unison. "Come on! Weren't you going to get me with one blow? I'm right here!" They laughed and Mizuki fell back in shock.

The Narutos grinned and balled their hands into fists. "In that case... I'll come to you!"

Mizuki trembled uncontrollably and let out a loud scream as the clones rushed him and struck him with an endless barrage. Soon enough, Mizuki lay unconscious on the ground, covered in scrapes and bruises. The clones vanished after a short time and Naruto looked up from Mizuki and to Iruka, scratching his head as he laughed to himself.

"I kind of got carried away. Iruka-sensei, are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah." Iruka answered after a moment and the dim light from the sunrise broke through the trees and illuminated the clearing. "He really is something. Maybe it is true. Maybe he will surpass the Hokages."

"Naruto!"

He turned to see his twin emerge from the trees and wrap him in a big hug.

"Natsumi!" Naruto staggered back, then smiled and returned the embrace. After a moment, she pulled back and held him at arm's length.

"Naruto, that was incredible!" Natsumi breathed and grinned from ear-to-ear. "Your clones... and the way you took care of him like that... you're amazing!"

"Hee hee." Naruto scratched his head again. "Well, of course I am! I'm the one who's going to be Hokage one day, after all!"

Natsumi laughed and wrapped him in another tight hug. "I'm glad you're alright." She paused and then scrunched her face as she gripped his collar tightly. "In that case..." She exhaled and shook him back-and forth. "How could you do something so stupid, Naruto? Stealing the scroll like that! Those Jutsu are forbidden for a reason! You could have killed yourself, or blown up the village, or... or..."

She bit her lip and released his shirt, her hands shaking. "I was so worried. When I found out what happened, I was afraid that I would get here too late."

Naruto blinked and softened. "H-Hey... don't make that face. I'm alright, see?"

Natsumi smiled faintly, nodded shortly, and laughed. "Yeah. Just promise that you won't do anything like this again, okay? You're going to make me die of a heart attack while I'm still a kid."

"Alright, alright... stop being so dramatic." Naruto chuckled and nudged her. "You can go back to telling me how awesome I am, though."

Natsumi laughed and shook her head. "You're hopeless."

Iruka smiled as he watched the two and then called out to Naruto.

"Hey, Naruto, come over here. I'd like to give you something."

In the Village, the crowd of Ninja reassembled, empty-handed.

"Has anyone found Naruto yet?" They asked each other.

"No." One answered grimly.

"Damn... this is going to be bad..." Another groaned.

The Hokage approached the group, taking his pipe from his mouth to speak clearly.

"There's no need to worry anymore." The group all turned to see him as he stepped closer with one hand behind his back.

"Lord Hokage!"

The old man smiled faintly. "He'll be back soon."

"Sensei, how much longer?" Naruto complained as he kept his eyes tightly shut.

"Okay, you may open your eyes now." Iruka beamed and Naruto's eyes opened slowly.

The bright morning sunlight flooded the area and warmed their skin and birds woke and began to sing and flutter around.

Naruto blinked and stared at Iruka, not understanding.

"Congratulations..." Iruka's smile grew, holding up Naruto's goggles in his hand. "On your graduation."

Naruto's eyes widened as he processed his words. "My... graduation?"

"In celebration, we'll have ramen tonight!"

Naruto's lips quivered and Iruka opened his eyes to look at him as he stood unusually quiet.

Finally, Naruto leapt forward and wrapped his teacher in a strong embrace, knocking him to the ground in excitement. "Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka cried out in pain, though he was smiling. "That hurts!"

Naruto sobbed and wrapped his arms around Iruka's neck as he patted his back.

"Naruto..." He looked down at Naruto as he thanked him repeatedly. "I was going to lecture you... that the road gets more difficult now that you're a Ninja. But... I guess I'll just wait to tell you that until we get to the ramen stand..."

Naruto gave Iruka a tighter squeeze and he complained, pushing Naruto back and reminded him of his injuries.

After some time, Naruto was able to calm down and he sniffed and wiped his face on his sleeve, gripping his headband proudly and turning to Natsumi.

"Natsumi, look!" He paused and saw that she was crying with a large smile on her face. In the morning sunlight, her hair looked even more vibrant, almost as if it were fire. "Nat...sumi?"

Natsumi choked back a sob and wiped her cheeks, laughing under her breath.

"S-Sorry, I don't mean to cry and ruin the mood. I can't stop..." She sniffed and Naruto stood, walking to her. "I.. I'm just so happy, Naruto. You finally were able to graduate. All your hard work paid off. I k-knew you could do it. I-I'm..." She sniffed again and another rush of tears spilled out. "I'm so proud to be your sister!"
Naruto's eyes watered and he tackled her as well, hugging her tightly. "Natsumi!"

"N-Naruto... you're..." She laughed and shoved him away. "You're crushing me!"

He chuckled and rubbed his head. "Sorry."

Natsumi smiled and hugged him quickly, releasing him to look at his headband. "I knew you could do it, you know. I always believed in you, and I always will."

His eyes sparkled and she rolled hers as she tapped his headband, looking at Iruka.

"Iruka-sensei, is it really alright if you give Naruto yours?"

Iruka smiled and nodded. "I want him to have it."

Natsumi copied his smile and then came over to him, frowning as she looked him over. "Are you okay? We should get you to the hospital for treatment."

Iruka winced, then leaned back against the tree. "It doesn't hurt so much if I stay like this."

Natsumi narrowed his eyes and met his. "Sensei..." She crossed her arms.

Iruka chuckled and winced, reaching out to ruffle Natsumi's hair. "I'll be alright. There's no need to worry."

Natsumi's eyes fell and her stomach slowly sunk.

Iruka's arm lowered and he titled his head, frowning. "Natsumi? What's wrong?"

Naruto came over to them and squatted next to his sister. "Natsumi?"

She blinked and looked to Naruto, then at Iruka.

"Iruka-sensei... about what Mizuki said... is it true?"

Naruto felt an icy chill rush down his spine and he looked into his teacher's eyes. Iruka's expression softened and he let out a quiet breath.

"You two... do you know what happened twelve years ago?"

Natsumi looked up. "The Nine-Tailed Fox Demon attacked the village... and the Fourth Hokage was the hero who stopped it... right?"

Naruto pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes.

Iruka nodded. "That's right. However," He paused, looking at Naruto. "it's not the whole story."

Naruto met his gaze. "It's not?"

Iruka shook his head. "You see... the Tailed Beasts cannot be killed. They might die for a time, but they will always come back to life. So, the Fourth Hokage stopped the attack on the Village the only way he could... by sealing the Nine-Tailed Fox inside of someone."

The twins' eyes widened and Natsumi looked to Naruto, whose hands began to tremble slightly. She slid her hand into his and gently squeezed it.

"But why... why me?" Naruto asked softly.

Iruka shook his head. "No one knows the answer to that, but because the Nine-Tailed Fox was sealed inside of you, the Village was saved."

Natsumi gave Naruto's hand another squeeze and then furrowed her brow. "But... doesn't that mean Naruto is a hero?"

Naruto's head shot up and he stared at her. "Natsumi?"

"Without him, the Village would be completely destroyed. He helped save everyone... so why does everyone treat him so poorly?"

Iruka's eyes fell and then rose again, looking between the two of them. "That's because they are afraid. They don't know any better, so they don't understand that Naruto is his own person and not the monster that's sealed away."

Natsumi closed her mouth and stared at the ground. "Even so... they shouldn't be like that. Naruto is a good person, and they don't even try to see it."

Iruka patted her head and she looked up at him.

"Many people lost loved ones that day, so it's easier for them to direct their grief and hatred on someone than for them to heal and put it behind them. In time, I'm sure they'll come around."

"But you don't feel the same way, right, Iruka-sensei?" Naruto watched as his teacher smiled faintly.

"Things were even difficult for me, too, at first. When you first became my students several years ago, I asked the Hokage to move you to a different classroom. But," He paused and his smile grew. "he explained to me how similar you and I were, and then I got to know you over time as your teacher. You were able to change my mind, simply by being yourself. I believe the same is possible for the rest of the village, once they get to know you better and see what a great Ninja you've become."

Naruto grinned and rubbed his nose, then formed a thumbs-up. "Then that's what I'll do!" He declared. "I'll get everyone to acknowledge me and I'll be the greatest Hokage ever."

Natsumi smiled at her brother and nodded. "As long as I can still nag you from time to time. Even a Hokage needs a good advisor."

Naruto stuck out his tongue and crossed his arms. "And who says that I'll choose you? You'll see, I'll be so great that I won't need any help."

Natsumi laughed and Iruka sat up straighter, sucking a hissing breath through his teeth in pain.

"Iruka-sensei!" She frowned and touched his arm. "We really need to get him to the hospital."

"Hey, Natsumi!" Kiri landed behind them, followed by Sena. "You—" Her eyes fell on the trio and she smiled. "You found him already. I guess you don't need help, after all."

Natsumi reached a hand out to them. "Wait! He's hurt and he needs help. I think we have to treat him before we can get him back to the Village."

"Hurt?" Sena approached them and examined his wounds, nodding. "I'll get started right away." She met Natsumi's eyes with a smile. "I'm a Medical Ninja, you know."

"Really?" Natsumi broke into a grin. "That's great!"

Kiri knelt beside Sena, looking Iruka over. "Have we met before?" She pointed at him. "You're pretty cute."

The teacher blushed and blinked. "I... w-what?"

Sena laughed. "Ignore her. She can't help herself around men and can be a real pain, but she's mostly harmless."

Kiri scowled and turned away, her nose in the air. "Jerk. I don't know why we're even friends."

Sena placed a hand over Iruka's back, took a breath, and began to channel Chakra to it, beginning to heal him. "It's because I know too much about you for you to just get rid of me so easily."

Kiri pursed her lips. "Hmph."

Naruto blinked in confusion and looked between the two Kunoichi. "Natsumi, who're they?"

"Oh, sorry." She laughed. "This is Kiri and Sena." She pointed to each of them. "I was training with them before."

Kiri waved at Naruto, winking. "Hey there, kid." She leaned closer and Naruto blushed as her face drew close. "You have really nice eyes." She said finally, sitting back and crossing her arms.

"T-Thanks." Naruto's eyes wandered to her chest and his cheeks grew hotter.

Natsumi pinched his earlobe and tugged. "Hey, you pervert! Stop it!"

"Ow ow ow ow!" He swatted her hand away and rubbed his ear with a heavy pout. "I didn't do anything."

Sena moved her hand from Iruka's back and gently set it on his shoulder. "There, that should be fine for now. How does it feel?"

Iruka sat up straighter and relaxed. "Better, thanks."

Sena giggled and slid her arm around him, helping him to a stand. "Alright, then, let's get you to the hospital and I can finish the treatment there."

"Wait, I need to return the scroll to the Hokage." Iruka looked at the scroll, which sat in the grass.

Kiri picked it up and held it under her arm. "I've got it."

Iruka rubbed his head slowly. "Actually, I'd rather do it myself."

Kiri turned her body slightly, pulling her left sleeve up so that he could see the crimson tattoo there before she slid it down again. "Don't worry, it's safe with me. I'll get it to the Hokage."

Iruka's eyes widened and he nodded slowly. "O-Of course."

Kiri held up a hand sign and vanished, and Sena looked at Iruka, muttering something so that only he could hear.

"Really? You both are...?"

She nodded. "Are you ready, then?"

Iruka nodded and the two disappeared as well, leaving only the twins.

"We should go, too. I'm sure the Hokage wants to see us both."

Naruto nodded slowly and met her eyes. "There's just one thing..."

"Hm?"

"Did you know? About the Nine-Tailed Fox?"

Natsumi shook her head. "No, not until I heard Mizuki talk about it." She paused and saw the worry clouding his eyes. "Hey, you're a hero, remember?" She smiled as he blinked and his lips curved upward. "So, don't be sad, okay?"

They shared a grin.

"Hey... do you want to race back?" Natsumi offered.

He shook his head and took her hand instead. "Nah, that's alright."

She looked down at their hands and smiled, and they pushed off the ground, heading to the Hokage's together.