Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be starting to see how Naruto's changed with his new motivation of being a reminder of the Kyūbi and fighting like a Kitsune, as well as how these changes make others see him. So, without further ado.
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The next day after getting back at the shopkeeper, Naruto was back in the Academy, listening to another of Iruka's lectures along with the rest of his classmates. With the lecture currently going over the different Ninja Clans of Konoha, their history, abilities, and their contributions to the village.
Though Naruto was only half listening to the lecture, instead, going over his new plan for his training. What he'll be able to train in at the moment and what he'll save for later on.
'I'll definitely be able to master and perfect the Transformation Jutsu, maybe even get it to the point I don't need to use handseals and can instantly transform. Genjutsu, too, since it'd be good to know how to cast them as well as dispel them if I'm ever trapped in a Genjutsu. I'm also gonna need to work on my physical training and Taijutsu, I'll need to be really fast and strong since Kitsune are supposed to be really agile and difficult to catch or hit. Maybe I could even see if I can extend and sharpen my nails into claws with Chakra.' Naruto thought, knowing he had a lot to work on, not to mention working on his Chakra Control as well.
Given the first few lessons they had on Genjutsu were about how they required really good Chakra Control in order to cast them, otherwise they wouldn't work.
Before the whiskered blonde perked up when Iruka started talking about the Uchiha Clan, how they were most known for their Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan. But also being experts in using Fire Style Ninjutsu and Genjutsu. Which really had Naruto's attention since he planned to also learn Fire Style Ninjutsu in place of Foxfire. And he's sure the Uchiha Clan must've collected plenty of Fire Style Ninjutsu and Genjutsu.
'And there's only two Uchiha left in the village.' Thought Naruto glancing at Sasuke Uchiha, since he and his mother are the only two Uchiha left after the rest of their clan had been wiped out a few months ago.
From what Naruto's also seen, Sasuke didn't really go to the Uchiha Clan Compound very often, usually spending time alone. Whereas Mikoto had been reinstated to active duty as a Jōnin after the massacre and her son moving out of the Compound. Meaning that there was barely anyone in the Uchiha Clan Compound, giving Naruto a chance to use their Clan Library, himself. Being able to use it for any Fire Style Ninjutsu they have, as well as advanced Genjutsu and Chakra Control Exercises.
'At least, until I'm a Genin and can use the Shinobi Section of the library.' Naruto thought, knowing it'd be good to check the Uchiha Clan Library until he became a Genin.
Before the Uzumaki flinched and rubbed his head when Iruka threw an eraser at him, the Chūnin looking at Naruto with narrowed eyes.
"Naruto! Do you mind sharing what's so important that you aren't paying attention to the lecture?" Iruka said in annoyance, having noticed how Naruto didn't seem to be really listening, with Naruto looking at him with a raised brow.
"Why should I pay attention to a teacher after they single out a student and tell everyone else to ignore them?" Retorted Naruto, throwing Iruka's words back at him.
"But if you're wondering what's so important, probably a lot of things, besides you." Naruto added with a smirk.
With Iruka scowling at his words, even more so when some of the students started laughing at the Uzumaki's comeback. Along with a few seeing that he also had a point.
"Okay, that's actually pretty cool and didn't think I'd say that about Naruto, of all people." Whispered Ino Yamanaka to Shikamaru and Chōji, while smiling slightly, not expecting the boy who most thought would be a shoe in for the class clown to say something like that.
"It's kind of funny and he's got a point, too." Chōji said while eating his chips, admitting it was a little funny.
While Shikamaru glanced over at Naruto, knowing he'd usually try making a joke or bragging that he didn't need to listen to lectures. Along with remembering what happened a few days ago with the shopkeeper, the same shopkeeper whose shop was shut down yesterday. The Nara Heir being unable to help but feel Naruto was somehow involved with it, only there was no proof.
Before his mind went to when he asked his parents about why Naruto was hated, only being told by his father to just treat Naruto however he wanted to treat him, not how everyone else does.
"I guess, it's still troublesome, though." Said Shikamaru with a shrug.
'HA! That's actually pretty funny!' Thought Kiba Inuzuka, being one of the students laughing at Naruto's comments.
'Naruto-kun.' Hinata Hyūga thought, looking at her crush in surprise at what he said to Iruka, but did gain a small smile, willing to admit to herself it was a little funny, along with being happy to see him standing up to others.
'Interesting.' Thought Shino Aburame while pushing up his sunglasses, unsure what to make of Naruto's words, but couldn't help but feel there was something different about the whiskered blonde.
A sentiment, his Kikaichū shared with how they got a different feeling from his Chakra than before, one they couldn't place, only that it's changing.
'Weird kid.' Sasuke thought, not really caring or finding what Naruto said to be funny, though would admit that he did have a point, before blocking out the laughter and everything else around.
'I…guess it is kind of funny and he's not wrong. But he still shouldn't talk to a teacher like that!' Thought Sakura Haruno, looking at Naruto for a moment before turning back towards Iruka.
"Quiet down, all of you!" Iruka said loudly, with all the laughing students soon stopping before the Chūnin narrowed his eyes at Naruto, again.
"You obviously don't care, but everyone else should so they can better understand the clans that are part of the village. After all, some of them may be your future teammates or you might work with other members of these clans while on missions." Said Iruka, with Naruto looking at him boredly.
"Uh-huh. Real important, and not like we can't just read about the different clans in the library or, ya know, ask one of the heirs that are in here about what their clans are like." Naruto replied while motioning to the various Clan Heirs and Heiresses in the room, getting a few more snickers from the students and others even contemplating his words.
Making Iruka scowl again before taking a few deep breaths and started his lecture again, deciding to just ignore Naruto. Only, when he looked around, the Chūnin noticed that now even more students weren't paying attention to him, much to chagrin.
'That kid really is nothing, but a troublemaker.' Iruka thought, his view of Naruto being further solidified by this, before continuing the lecture and hoping the rest of the students still understood it was important.
*Later*
It wasn't long before lunch had begun, much to Naruto's relief at getting out the classroom. Allowing him to start better planning his training, while eating lunch. Once he'd finished, Naruto had gone straight towards the Academy Library, wanting to see what books they had on Genjutsu and Chakra Control. Managing to find books about the basics of casting and dispelling Genjutsu, along with some Chakra Control Exercises called the Leaf Concentration Exercise, Surface Walking, and Water Walking.
'Looks like the Leaf Concentration Exercise is something we learn in the Academy, so it'll be good to have a head start on knowing it, already. It's also good to help learn concentration and focus, given how you'd need to focus your Chakra into a single spot, in multiple different spots once you start using more leaves. But why are books about Surface Walking and Water Walking here?' Naruto thought, confused on why books for the latter two exercises were here.
As from what he just read about them, they aren't taught in the Academy and are only learned once students become Genin, or even Chūnin, sometimes, in the case of Water Walking. Before shrugging, figuring they were here for the few students that were already ahead of everyone else and advanced enough to learn them. With him copying down the information on the exercises before he began going over the basics and principles of Genjutsu, Ninjutsu as well as some basic Taijutsu forms and techniques that he managed to find.
One thing, Naruto wanted for his Taijutsu Style was for it to resemble the way a Kitsune fights, where he'd his opponents fast and hard. Along with seeing about integrating claw swipes into it, in addition to using punches and kicks. As well as using feints and misdirection to catch his opponents off-guard and get in close, given how Kitsune use tricks to get people to let down their guard before striking.
'I should also find more information on the Transformation Jutsu, Substitution Jutsu, and Clone Jutsu.' Naruto thought, going to get the books he needed, wanting to find out as much information as he can for the Transformation Jutsu to master it.
While the Substitution Jutsu would also be very useful for his Kitsune fighting style, with how it'd let him instantly switch places with an object. Allowing him to hide his presence to wait for a moment to strike or setting up traps for his opponents. And the Clone Jutsu was something he needed to learn if he wanted to pass the Academy and become a Genin.
Though, when Naruto started reading about the Clone Jutsu, he now realized why exactly he's always failed to actually use it; only ever producing clones that looked pale and lifeless. Learning that the Clone Jutsu didn't even require that match Chakra to begin with, and that he's been using too much Chakra. Having originally believed that he never used enough. Leading Naruto constantly using more and more Chakra each time, only to be met with the same result.
'Maybe instead trying to condense so much Chakra into one or three clones, I should just spread it out into a bunch of them. Maybe it still won't work, but hopefully the clones I make will be better than the ones I've made before.' Naruto thought as he finished writing down all his notes before putting everything away, knowing he had everything that he needed for the time being.
'Now to find somewhere I can get started on my training.' Thought Naruto as he exited the library and left the Academy.
Deciding to just cut the rest of class and get started on his training, given the Uzumaki saw it as a better use of his time than listening to lectures. As well as not really feeling like dealing with Iruka for the rest of the day, either.
*Later*
'So this is the Zeroth Training Ground.' Naruto thought while standing outside a large fenced in the training ground, with several signs on it forbidding entry.
After leaving the Academy, Naruto had put on a transformation before moving around the village to try and find some place to train, where no one would disturb him. Eventually overhearing some Chūnin and Jōnin talking about the Zeroth Training Ground and the Forty-Fourth Training Ground, with the latter also being known as the Forest of Death from what he's heard.
With Naruto deciding on using the Zeroth Training Ground for his training, given how it has less of a chance for anyone to find him, here. As one other thing, he overheard, was that the Forest of Death seemed to be frequently occupied by a Chūnin by the name of Anko Mitarashi. And the whiskered blonde would prefer not having anyone find him training and potentially spy on him.
Though he did make a note of Anko as from the way the Chūnin and Jōnin talked about her, it seemed like she wasn't well-liked by most of the village, either. Making him consider finding out more about her to see if she'd be able to help him with his training, as a fellow outcast.
Naruto had also looked up some information about the Zeroth Training Ground, wanting to be prepared for what he may encounter inside it. Learning how it used to be used by the village for something called the Chūnin Exams, where Genin would compete to be promoted to Chūnin. Before it was converted into a wildlife preserve filled with rare and unusual animals, as well as insectivorous plants.
While the training ground itself consisted of a forest, wide open plains, and a cliff. The latter of which actually had a massive hidden chamber inside that was used for the Chūnin Exams for the Genin, at least for those that were able to find the entrance, to compete against each other during the third round.
With this information, Naruto headed for the training ground and got his first look at it, knowing it would be a good place for him to train in. Before the Uzumaki looked up and down the fence to find a good spot for him to get over and sneak into it. Luckily, managing to find one before getting out the fence and heading deeper into the training ground, while preparing himself for anything he may encounter inside.
*Timeskip-Six Days*
After getting into the Zeroth Training Ground, Naruto had spent the next two days getting used to the terrain, while learning more about the flora and fauna inside it. Finding that some of the animals inside were more dangerous and much bigger than he anticipated. But also using them to help with his stealth-and-evasion training, given how heightened their senses were. Along with figuring which animals and plants were safe to eat, with the former aiding him in working on his trap-making, given how he encountered a few plants that likely would have eaten him.
Once he'd figured that all out, as well as finding the entrance to the exams chamber in the cliff, Naruto had gotten to work on his training. With the Uzumaki being pleased at the progress he's made, having even gotten the hang of the Leaf Concentration Exercise, Surface Walking, and Water Walking. Though he hasn't mastered them yet, he's at least succeeded in being able to perform them.
While his Taijutsu's also improved greatly, being even better that he's managed to get a few sparring partners from some of the other animals. The most frequent ones being a young boxing Kangaroo and a giant anteater.
Now after six days, Naruto was leaving the Zeroth Training Ground, knowing he couldn't stay in there forever and that he'd need to get more supplies.
'Maybe I could see about training my Genjutsu on some of the animals in there.' Naruto thought as he exited the training ground and returned to the village.
Having read that Genjutsu targets the Chakra flow of someone's cerebral nervous system, affecting the activity throughout the prosencephalon structure of the brain. It made it so Genjutsu didn't just affect people, but dogs and other types of animals as well. So, Naruto figured it'd be a good beginning to test non-harmful Genjutsu out on animals, before going onto people.
Unfortunately, the whiskered blonde was pulled from his thoughts when he felt someone grab him by the back of his collar, making him yelp as he was pulled back. Only to frown when he saw Iruka was the one who grabbed him, with the Chūnin Instructor having a furious look on his face.
"And just where the hell have you been?!" Iruka demanded, annoyed and angry at Naruto for not only cutting class, but then going nearly a week without showing up at the Academy.
"Why would I tell you that? You're the one that tells everyone to ignore me. I'm surprised you even noticed I was gone." Retorted Naruto, which only annoyed Iruka further before he Shunshined them both away.
Naruto blinking as he and Iruka reappeared inside the classroom, where all the other students were already present, before Iruka then dropped Naruto on the ground.
"Okay everyone! Since Naruto here thought it was funny to cut class and then not show up for six days, we'll be reviewing the Taijutsu matches from yesterday! So, everyone outside to be paired up for your matches!" Iruka said, making nearly everyone groan in annoyance, with a few looking at Naruto with annoyed expressions before they all got up and headed outside.
With Naruto brushing off their annoyance, not really caring if he's making them have sparring matches two days in a row. In fact, he liked to have the chance to see how much he's improved against whoever he's facing.
Once they were outside, Iruka began calling out names of the students before having them enter the sparring ring. The whiskered blonde splitting his attention between watching the matches and see who was left as more names were called, wondering who he'll be facing off against. Until he soon heard his name be called and who he'd be sparring against.
"Naruto and Hibachi!" Iruka said as he called out the next matchup, with Naruto unable to help, but smirk.
'This just got even better.' Thought Naruto, pleased at getting the chance to fight Hibachi, still wanting to get some payback against him for before, as he and Hibachi got up and entered the sparring ring.
"Ready to eat dirt, loser." Hibachi said with a taunting smirk while Naruto merely kept smirking at him.
"Alright, both of you make the Seal of Confrontation." Said Iruka, with both boys doing so before the Chūnin brought his hand down between them.
"Hajime!" Iruka said, moving back as the sparring match started.
With Hibachi instantly charging towards Naruto with a shout and pulling his fist back, only for Naruto to sidestep the punch and slam his foot into the back of Hibachi's legs. The bully grunting as he fell down to his knees, only to cry out when Naruto slammed his fist into the back of his head.
"How's that dirt taste, Hibachi?" Naruto mockingly asked, making Hibachi scowl in anger at the loser humiliating him, only to grin as he grabbed some dirt in his hands.
"You tell me, freak!" Shouted Hibachi, throwing the dirt towards Naruto, the Uzumaki letting out a yelp at the dirt flying in his face, bringing a hand up to rub his eyes.
The sight making Hibachi smirk before shouting as he charged Naruto again, intent to beat him into the ground and show the loser his place. Only to be shocked when Naruto grabbed his wrist with his other hand, while the one rubbing his eyes moved away, showing he was still smirking.
"You missed." Naruto stated, having noticed Hibachi grabbing some dirt in his hands before he turned away and closed his eyes, pretending it go in his eyes to get Hibachi close.
The brunette scowling in anger before tried punching Naruto with his other fist, only for Naruto to grab that as well, holding Hibachi in place.
"But if you want to fight dirty, then be ready to get hurt." Said Naruto before suddenly yanking Hibachi close and slamming his head into his face, with Hibachi crying out as he felt his nose break.
Only to gag, when Naruto gave a quick chop to his throat, followed by smashing his knee into his stomach with Hibachi bending over as he gasped for air. Before he was then silenced as Naruto gave a spin kick to Hibachi's head, knocking him unconscious and out of the arena.
With everyone looking on in shock at seeing Naruto manage to win the match, along with just how brutal he was to Hibachi, before Iruka shook off his shock and scowled at Naruto.
"That was going too far! This is just supposed to be a simple sparring match!" Iruka said, angry at seeing Naruto break Hibachi's nose before then knocking him unconscious.
"And it was. I won, he lost, simple. Plus, how much do you want to bet you wouldn't've cared less, had Hibachi done the same to me, if his attempt to blind me by throwing dirt in my eye had worked?" Stated Naruto with a smirk, much to Iruka's growing anger before he went to check on Hibachi and take him to the nurse.
All while his refusal to answer Naruto's question pretty much confirmed what he had asked. If their situation was reversed, he wouldn't have gotten mad at Hibachi like he did with Naruto and probably wouldn't care, overall.
While Naruto went to retake his seat, pleased at getting some payback against Hibachi and seeing how he's improved. Knowing that before, he wouldn't have lasted that long in that sparring match, let alone win. Though, he was confused when he looked at the other students, noticing some girls staring at him, only to quickly look away with their faces turning red.
'Weird.' Naruto thought, confused at their behavior.
Unknown to Naruto, due to his disrespect towards Iruka, cutting class the rest of the day and then skipping a few days of the Academy. Along with how rough he was with Hibachi, beating him into the ground before calling out Iruka's hypocrisy. It's lead him to start gaining a reputation as a delinquent and bad boy, something that's now started getting him attention from some of the girls.
Shaking his head, Naruto turned back to the sparring ring once Iruka returned and the matches continued. Focusing on some of the students and how they fought, wanting to see if there's anything that could be used in his own Taijutsu Style. Only to fully focus on Kiba when he called into the ring, seeing how the Inuzuka was fighting, the movements, speed, and using his hands like claws.
'That'll definitely be useful for my fighting style.' Naruto thought making mental notes of how Kiba fought and what elements could be incorporated into his Taijutsu Style, having already thought of a name for it as well.
Fox Fang Style.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see how Naruto's now begun focusing more on his training and what he'll be doing to have Kitsune-like abilities, along with the surprise mention of Mikoto having survived the massacre, which will be explained later. Before Naruto's pulled from his thoughts by Iruka throwing an eraser at him and demanding to know why he's not paying attention, only for Naruto to throw his words back in his face, much to the amusement of most of the students, while Iruka is annoyed at seeing some of them now weren't paying attention either, further solidifying his views of Naruto being a troublemaker (given how Naruto didn't encounter the Taki Kunoichi and needed to be saved, he and Iruka never bonded together).
Then we see Naruto researching some Jutsu and Chakra Control Exercises in the Academy Library before cutting the rest of class to find somewhere to train. Leading to him overhearing some Chūnin and Jōnin, under a transformation to avoid being seen, talking about the Forest of Death and Zeroth Training Ground, with Naruto deciding to use the latter to train in. Then we get a small timeskip of a few days with Naruto leaving the Zeroth Training Ground and going over his training inside, only for him to then be found by Iruka and taken back to the Academy.
Finally we see Iruka having the entire class have Taijutsu sparring matches again due to Naruto having skipped several days, much to the rest of the students annoyance. With Naruto being paired against Hibachi, much to his eagerness to get some payback, leading to Naruto being rather rough against Hibachi and winning the spar. While unknown to him he's now started gaining the reputation of a delinquent and a bad boy after cutting class, skipping the Academy for several days, and now brutalizing Hibachi, which is no getting him some attention from the female students. Before we see Naruto observing Kiba's fighting style, knowing it'd be perfect to implicate parts into his own Taijutsu, Fox Fang Style. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out