1 Week later…
A week after graduation the newly minted genin gathered back into the classroom for team placements. There was one person that they had never seen before that had on a leaf headband. He had on black ANBU pants with a grey shirt. Over the shirt he had a black vest similar to Shikamaru's with red straps for the tanto he wore on his back. Their heads turned as they saw the one person they thought had failed in the doorway. There was Naruto with a forehead protector strung around his neck. The only difference in his clothing that they noticed was the headband and a belt he had around his waist that 10 scrolls. 9 of them were about the size of his forearm and the 10th was about the size of his hand.
'Naruto, you passed. Thank goodness,' thought Hinata.
Nobody had noticed except Naruto who's eyes widened. Hinata now had a bandage around her forehead which could only mean one thing.
'Shit!'
Everybody else's thoughts on Naruto went along the lines of, 'Dammit why did he have to pass. Now I might be on a team with him."
The only one who spoke up was Sakura, "NARUTO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!? YOU FAILED!"
"Haruno, I've said it once and I'll say it again, shut up," said Naruto.
"*sigh* There was a misunderstanding while grading so I had to fix the -urm- mistakes written down," said Iruka, "Now, Naruto, please take a seat."
"Hai, Iruka sensei."
"Alright! I will only be saying the teams once so listen up!"
"Team 1,"
At this Naruto zoned out. Throughout the class he could hear groans from Sasuke fangirls who wouldn't be with their beloved. He started to listen when it came to clan heirs.
"Team 7. Sai, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke,"
"YEEEAAAAA! True love wins over all! Take that Ino-pig!" yelled the ecstatic pinkett.
"Sakura sit down, I wasn't finished!" yelled Iruka, "Alright. Team 7, your sensei will be Hatake Kakashi.
"Team 8. Aburame Shino, Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba,"
"WAHOO! You hear that Akamaru!? We're with Hina-chan!" Kiba yelled.
"KIBA LET ME FINISH!" screamed Iruka, "Now, your sensei is Yuhi Kurenai."
'Kurenai neechan?' thought Naruto and Hinata
'Well at least there's someone to watch Kiba if he makes any moves,' thought the redhead.
"Team 10. Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akamichi Choji. Your sensei is Sarutobi Asuma." said Iruka, "Now, Naruto, will you come with me to talk about your team?"
Naruto frowned but nodded nonetheless.
When they were outside the classroom Iruka spoke up, "Naruto, the Hokage has given you a choice."
Flashback
There was a lot of chatter in the Hokage office about who will be getting who on their team. This went on for a couple of minutes until the Hokage put an end to it.
"Enough. If you don't mind, I will be getting on to teams. Thank you. Team 7 will be composed of Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Sasuke, Sai, and Haruno Sakura. Team 8 will be composed of Yuhi Kurenai, Aburame Shino, Hyuuga Hinata, and Inuzuka Kiba. Team 10 will be composed of Sarutobi Asuma, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akamichi Choji. Team 9 is still in circulation. Team 11 will be composed of Uzumaki Naruto alone. Are there any concerns?" announced the Hokage.
"Lord Hokage why is my student on his own?" asked Iruka.
"I'm glad you asked Iruka-kun. You see, I don't think Naruto-kun will fit on any team. He won't fit for Team 10 as a tactical squad, he doesn't fit on the tracking team of team 8, and from what I've seen of your reports neither the Uchiha or Haruno like him. He will mainly be a back-up team that only I will assign and grant missions to. And from what I saw with the Mizuki incident and his life, he's fine and more comfortable working alone. If a team has an open spot it will be up to him if he wants to join."
Flashback End
"So what's the other choice?" asked Naruto.
"Join a team with the other outliers."
"I'll take the first choice. Jiji's right, I don't fit on the other teams, plus I can just make my own team with my Kage Bunshin. I'll be Team 11 alone Iruka sensei, the recon and back-up team, Uzumaki Naruto!" said Naruto
"Alright Naruto, let's go announce this," said Iruka.
When they got back into class, Naruto took the same seat he took a week earlier causing both Kiba and Sasuke to glare at him. The class slowly started to disperse as more and more teams left. The last 3 teams and Naruto's heads lifted at the next 2 jounin. A burly and tall man with a cigar came in with a red eyed, black haired woman with a blouse that looked like it was made of bandages with one red sleeve.
"Team 8? Yuhi Kurenai."
"Team 10? Sarutobi Asuma."
As Team 10 left with Asuma, Hinata got up and as she walked by Kiba, he stuck out his hand to grab her by her ass. Before he got there, however, a kunai cut in front of his hand, stopping him. He looked left and saw Naruto on the window sill.
"Kurenai-neechan, Shino, watch the mutt, he's a feisty one," the redhead said as he hopped out the window.
Before he could defend himself Kiba felt 3 large killing intents coming from Kurenai and Sakura.
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"Hey jiji! Thanks for the solo team! You made a good decision, if I was placed on a team, especially with people who I don't like, it will mess our teamwork, and we need teamwork for our missions especially as fresh genin," said Naruto.
"Ah, Naruto-kun, I'm glad you chose the better decision." said Sarutobi, 'He knows what to do without even a test,' he thought happily.
"Oh yeah, if a spot opens up, I don't want in. If a jounin ever wants to teach me that's fine but I don't want a permanent sensei without my choosing."
"That's fine Naruto-kun," responded the Hokage.
"So, since I'm already my own team, can I get a few missions?"
"A few?"
"Well, I can make Kage Bunshin and D-ranks really only take 1-2 people, so if I create 20 Kage Bunshins, it's 10 missions a day." explained Naruto.
"Very well, here are your 10 missions," said Sarutobi with a smile.
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When Naruto got outside he created 19 clones going into pairs of 2. The original Naruto and and copy went off to their mission, babysitting a little brat at the Sarutobi compound. Once Naruto got to the Sarutobi compound he knocked on the doors of the estate. The doors opened showing Sarutobi's daughter in law.. She had on a pink apron and was wearing brown pants with a green blouse.
"Hey, I'm to babysit a brat while Mika has a girl's night out?"
"Yes, that's me, thank you for watching Konohamaru," said the now named Mika, "Just to let you know he might want to train for the academy so if you could help him practice I would be very grateful."
"Of course," said Naruto
"Thank you, here are the keys, we live in the main house over there, and watch out for any of his ambushes," she said in a rush.
"Alright, have a good time," said the flabbergasted redhead.
As he walked towards the main house he heard whistling come towards him. He took out his father's 3 prong kunai and cut all the wooden shuriken in half.
"Let me guess, are you Konohamaru?" asked Naruto to nobody in particular.
"H-how did you do that?" asked the derpy looking boy.
He had a tan shirt with the konoha symbol on it, he had gray pants with blue ninja sandals. He had a long blue scarf that was too big for him and a cap that let out his hair at the top.
"I'm a ninja, kid, that's how. And I'll be the one babysitting and -urh- training you. Name's Naruto," said Naruto.
"WOW! Really!" exclaimed Konohamaru, "Amazing!"
"Alright kid, your aim sucks so we'll work on that," Naruto said half-heartedly.
"NO IT DOESN'T! HOW WOULD YOU KNOW!" screamed the angered kid.
"I know because my reaction time is as good as the sharingan. And I don't have it," Naruto said, "Are there training grounds here?"
"Ya there over this way," Konohamaru said as he pointed past the house.
Training Grounds
"Alright can you show me how you throw your kunai and shuriken," Naruto said as he put a senbon in his teeth.
"Alright," Konohamaru said as he took out 4 shuriken and 4 kunai. He threw them at the training post where none of them hit.
"I see why you're so bad at this. You don't even aim. You throw them hoping one will hit," explained Naruto.
"Huh?" said Konohamaru, "then how do I aim.
"Well there are many ways to throw kunai, shuriken and other weapons, but I throw shuriken similar to frisbees and kunai as if I was skipping rocks," Naruto said.
"Oh, I know how to do that," said Konohamaru.
"Good, now grab some good rocks for skipping and get a frisbee. We'll be working on your aim for the next hour to hour and a half,"
"Okay Naruto-niichan!" Konohamaru called.
Naruto smiled at the retreating boy, 'he's a lot like me,' he thought.
"He's so much like you it's scary," said Kurama.
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Konohamaru came backs with a bucket of rocks and a frisbee. Naruto was nowhere in sight.
"Naruto-niichan?" he asked.
"Right here, Konohamaru."
Konohamaru turned around and saw Naruto holding something behind his back.
"What's that?" asked the curious boy.
"A present for you. But first take of your cap." Naruto told him.
"Uh, okay? Now what?"
Konohamaru watched as Naruto took a green pair of goggles from behind his back and held them out to him.
"For you, I used to wear them in the Academy before I graduated. I don't use them anymore so you'll put better use to them. But promise me something, okay? When you find someone who interests you when you become a shinobi like you interest me, give the goggles and give them the same message I gave you right now," Naruto said.
"You can count on it Naruto-niichan!" Konohamaru said as he put on the goggles.
"Alright, let's get to the training."
1 hour and a half later…
"*pant*pant* Naruto-pant-niichan, that was a lot of work." Konohamaru said exasperated.
"It wasn't that bad, plus your aim is much better now, you hit 85% of your throws," Naruto complimented, "So what do you want to do now?"
"I'm not sure. Ebisu-sensei usually shows up around now," said the Sarutobi.
"Oh, hey Konohamaru?"
"Ya?"
"What's your dream?"
"To be Hokage!" Konohamaru yelled.
"That's ironic," said Naruto as Kurama nodded.
"Huh, why?"
"Cause that's my dream as well," said the Uzumaki, "why is it your's?
Konohamaru's face fell at this, "Gramps named me after the village, Konoha, but all people call me 'honorable grandson.' That's why I want to become Hokage, so they can finally see me and not just the Hokage's grandson," he explained.
"Konohamaru, I'm going to be blunt, that's not a great reason to become Hokage. My reason is to protect the people most precious to me, and even if it treats me badly, the village as well. I learned that over 6 years ago. It used to be to get the villager's recognition, but I know that will take a very long time. I learned this after a talk with Jiji." Naruto said.
"Jiji?" asked Konohamaru.
"The third is like a grandfather to me, you know," explained Naruto, "He's always there when I need him."
Konohamaru now had a whole new outlook on becoming the Hokage. He looked at his grandfather's face in the Hokage mountain, 'Don't worry Jiji, when I become Hokage, I'll protect this village and my precious people just like you.'
"Honorable Grandson!" yelled a dopey-sounding voice.
Naruto looked over to see a man with blue ninja clothes, glasses, and a leaf forehead protector worn as a headband.
"Who are you?" asked the redhead.
'That's who Lord Third sent to babysit his precious grandson?' thought the man, "I am Ebisu, the Honorable Grandson's personal tutor."
"You let him call you that?" said Naruto as he frowned at Konohamaru.
"He keeps insisting on calling me that," Konohamaru replied looking at the floor.
"And you, if you were his personal tutor, why is his weapon aim so bad? I taught him for an hour and a half and he was hitting the targets by 70% more from when we started," Naruto scolded.
"You do not have the right to talk to me, an elite, that way," said Ebisu dignantly.
"I call 'em and talk to 'em how I see 'em. And you…" said Naruto as he looked Ebisu up and down, "...are a closet pervert that tries to use shortcuts,"
Ebisu face planted as he heard the last part. However, Konohamaru's eyes widened.
"You knew he used shortcuts just by looking at him, WOW boss you're so cool!" Konohamaru exclaimed.
"Ya, it's pretty easy, I knew just by the way he holds himself." said Naruto, "Listen Ebisu, or whatever your name is, right now I'm watching the brat and it's a mission that I'm glad I got so either leave so I can continue to enjoy it, or do something that allows you to stay."
"Fine," said Ebisu, getting up still having a slight blush on his face, 'This will impress you for sure.' "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
As Ebisu said this 20 clones popped up beside him.
"WOW! Can I learn that!?" Konohamaru asked excitedly.
"OF COURSE! UNDER MY TEACHING YOU CAN LEARN ANYTHING!" yelled Ebisu.
"Are you trying to kill him? You need jounin level chakra to pull that off. And is that supposed to impress me?" Naruto asked. "Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
As soon as he said that 200 clones popped into the training ground. Ebisu and Konohamaru were stunned.
"H-how?" asked Ebisu.
"That's a secret," said Naruto, "Now, I'll be watching Konohamaru until Mika-san gets back. I have about another 3-4 hours so if you could be on your way that would be much appreciated."
Ebisu and his 20 clones walked out of the compound still shocked at the 200 clones.
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1 week later…
D ranks were no longer a problem because of Naruto and his Kage Bunshins. He had gotten over 70 done in the past week alone, he had done nearly 10x the amount than most genin teams had. This of course did not sit well with the emo uchiha who had seen too many Narutos around the village. His genin team had nearly failed their test and they had only been working on teamwork exercises and only done 5 missions.
Hokage's office
"Hokage-sama, I think we deserve a C-rank mission," said Sasuke.
"YA! Sasuke-kun should get a C-rank! What's the point of useless chores anyway!" screamed Sakura.
Sai just stood there while Kakashi was off in his own little world with his icha-icha.
"Kakashi, do you think your team can handle a C-rank?" asked the Hokage.
Kakashi analyzed his team for a bit and then nodded, "Hai, Hokage-sama. I feel they're ready. Sasuke and Sai are high-genin to low-chunin level and Sakura is about mid-genin level. I think they can do an escort mission."
The Hokage nodded, "Very, well. You will be escorting Tazuna to Nami no Kuni so that he can build his bridge," he looked at the door and said, "You can come in now Tazuna-san."
Team 7 looked to the door and saw a scruffy-looking old man. He had on a brown shirt and green shorts. He had a bottle which was filled with sake and they could tell he was drunk. Next to him was someone they weren't expecting.
"Dobe? Get out of here, we're in an official meeting here, can't you see?" said Sasuke.
"Like a care what you say," said Naruto as he passed Team 7.
"DON'T TALK TO SASUKE-KUN LIKE THAT!" screamed Sakura.
"Do you have to be so loud, you'll make both old men go deaf," he said as Tazuna glared at him while the Hokage laughed,
"I'll be okay Naruto-kun. Anyways, are you here to turn in your missions?" asked Sarutobi.
"Hai, Hokage-sama. Gotta say though, I feel bad for Tora, her owner is way too rough," said Naruto chuckling a little, "Anyways, I'm gonna go train with Konohamaru. See ya Jiji!" Naruto said as he jumped out the window.
"I keep telling him to use the door but he doesn't listen…" the Hokage muttered.
Team 7 were just dumbfounded. They saw the way Naruto talked to the Hokage, and for a few seconds he was respectful, but then it took a 180 and they were talking like old friends.
The Hokage coughed to get their attention, "Anyways, as I was saying. Please escort Tazuna-san to Nami no Kuni."
"Wait, this is my team? A bunch of kids?" asked Tazuna.
"Don't worry Tazuna-san, my team is very capable. And if anything goes wrong, I'm a jounin." said Kakashi, "Alright team, this mission might take a while, so pack for 2 weeks."
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1 day later…
Naruto was walking through the streets when he saw someone he hadn't seen since team selection. He looked around and saw the coast was clear.
"Hey Hinata!" he greeted as he ran up to the depressed looking girl, "what's wrong?" he asked as he saw her grim look.
"I-it's N-nothing N-N-Naruto-kun," said Hinata.
"I can tell something's wrong, you don't have to keep it to yourself, you know?" said Naruto
Hinata's eyes filled with tears and she turned to him so that only he could see her face. She unraveled the bandages around her forehead as she started to cry. Naruto's eyes widened and he clenched his fists. On Hinata's forehead was the bane of the cadet branch of the Hyuga Clan, Caged Bird Seal.
"H-Hinata," said Naruto.
"My f-father s-saw th-that S-Sakura-san w-w-was th-the k-kunoichi of th-the y-year and s-said th-that i-if I-I w-w-wasn't a-able to do b-better th-than a c-civilian b-born g-girl I w-wasn't g-good e-enough to be h-heiress. S-so he p-put the C-caged B-bird S-seal on m-me the d-day a-after the g-graduation e-exams." she explained sadly.
Naruto was speechless, how could they do that to their own family. The two looked up as they heard a messenger hawk above them. Naruto held out his hand and opened the scroll.
"Sorry Hinata-chan, I'm needed in the Hokage's office. But get better okay, it'll all get better in time," he said as he gave her a gentle smile.
She nodded and then blushed as she realized the -chan suffix he added on to her name. She looked at his retreating figure and her mood dropped once more. She felt around her pocket and found the metal piece she had been using for the past few years.
'I don't know if it will, Naruto-kun,' she thought sadly.
Hokage's office
Naruto was still in a bad mood when he got to the Hokage's office. Sarutobi noticed and asked,
"Is something the matter Naruto-kun?"
"It's nothing Jiji," the obviously irritated boy said.
Sarutobi nodded and didn't question any further,
"Anyways, what I brought you here for, do you remember the mission I sent Team 7 on yesterday?"
"Hai," replied Naruto.
"Well, they ran into some, urh, complications and the C-Rank is now being bumped up to high-B to low-A. You are to catch up with Team 7, and help them finish their mission. Understood?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama," Naruto said as he grabbed the scroll the Hokage gave him.
Gates of Konoha
As Naruto finished sealing the necessities he needed for the mission, he activated his wind jutsu. The wind flowed around him, and he felt lighter. Then he was off running at his top speed.
A/N: Think of A's lightning armor but wind.
"I wonder what this mission has in store for you kid," said Kurama.
'I sure hope it doesn't take long,' thought Naruto as he sped off to Nami no Kuni.
END
Authors Notes
Aaaaaand, another chapter done. This is probably my favorite chapter so far. Just to warn you, English is my worst class so if the grammar is bad, it's to be expected. Anyways hope you enjoyed it. I definitely did.