Naruto
Behind the Mask
Chapter I
Naruto was seated in his usual seat in the academy talking with Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Choji, his three closest friends. They were chatting about the graduation exam thinking who would pass and who would fail and what impact this exam would have on the team placements. Naruto and his friends knew they would all pass. Naruto may not be a genius like Shikamaru or Sasuke nor a total bookworm like Saskura but he was far from dead last, even if his grades suggested otherwise.
You see Naruto purposely failed at everything to make others underestimate him and to see just how the academy instructors paid attention to their students. No one ever pulled Naruto aside to ask him about his grade or to offer him tutoring. No one seemed to care if their secret weapon was a failure.
As Naruto and his friends were talking Umino Iruka, his class' head instructor walked in and called the class to attention.
"Alright everyone take your seats and we will get started on the graduation exams. In total there will be three exams. A written exam to show that you understand basic ninja knowledge and history, a physical exam where you will spar to show you understand basic ninja skills, and a ninjutsu exam where you perform three jutsu taught in the academy." Iruka said
Mizuki, Iruka's assistant instructor, passed out the test booklets to each student as iruka explained the rules for the exam. When Naruto got his exam he did a quick genjutsu check and smiled, not finding one he honestly expected Mizuki to try and sabotage him but seems his bluff of idiocy paid off.
"You have thirty minutes to complete your test, good luck." Iruka said as he started a sand filled hourglass.
Naruto looked over the questions and began to answer each question. He was actually rather smart and a good studier but he feigned not knowing things while in the academy. Naruto was about to see just how far his secret lessons with the Hokage were about to pay off.
After thirty minutes was up Iruka called the class to attention once again and had Mizuki collect the test booklets. Iruka left a shadow clone to grade the tests while he led the graduates outside for their taijutsu spars. Iruka could have left Mizuki to grade the tests but truth be told Iruka didn't trust Mizuki.
Once outside Iruka had the graduates line up on the sidelines of the sparring field. Iruka looked at his students and smiled. They all seemed ready to graduate and become ninja.
"Alright this test will be a series of one on one spars the rules are simple: no weapons, no jutsu, and no serious injuries. These spars are to gauge your understanding of basic ninja hand to hand combat." Iruka explained. "First up, Haruno Sakura, and Ami."
The spars lasted only two hours for all the students and when everyone had finished Iruka led them all back inside and had them sit down in their normal seats.
"Alright the last test, ninjutsu. For this test you will be called one at a time to the next room and there you will perform academy taught jutsu." Iruka said as he walked to the next room via a connector door.
One by one each student was called and tested. Once they did their test they were sent outside to wait for the remaining students to finish.
"Naruto." came mizuki's voice.
Naruto rose from his seat and entered the next room where Iruka was waiting.
"Alright Naruto first perform the Henge no Jutsu." Iruka said.
Naruto made the required seal and turned into his idol, the Yondaime Hokage Namikaze Minato.
"Very good next the Kawarimi." Iruka said.
Naruto replaced himself with a nearby chair.
"Great. Lastly, please make three clones using the Bunshin no Jutsu." Iruka said.
Naruto let out a calming breath, while he could perform the bunshin it wasn't his best technique.
"Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto called out.
In a puff of smoke three clones appeared all passing copies of Naruto.
"Congratulations Naruto, you pass. Head outside and join your friends." Iruka said as he handed Naruto his very own Hitai-ate.
"Yatta." Naruto said, striking a victory pose.
Outside Naruto walked over to Choji and Shikamaru Ino was there yet as she had not yet taken her test as her surname started with a y meaning she was toward the bottom of the list.
"So you passed good, don't know what I would have done if you somehow failed." Shikamaru said. "Ino would no doubt nag me to find out how you failed but now that conversation will never happen."
"I don't know how I would survive a class without you guys in it. Hell if I failed I might actually ditch the whole ninja career as a whole. This was my third attempt after all." Naruto said with a smile.
A short while later Ino came out with Iruka wearing a hitai-ate around her waist like a fashion accessory. As Ino came over to Naruto, Choji, and Shikamaru. She was practically glowing with happiness.
"We did it, we're finally ninja." Ino said happily.
"No more boring classes now we get to really train and not have to listen to lectures all day." Shikamaru said.
"Like you ever listened anyway you slept through half of them." Ino teased.
"Lectures are boring." Shikamaru defended.
"Come on, let's go celebrate, maybe some BBQ." Naruto said with a smile.
"Hell yea and I'll foot the bill." Choji said.
"Now that's what I'm talking about." Naruto said excitedly.
XxXxXxX
Naruto and his friends were back at the academy having had their pictures taken and orientation now they were waiting for their team reveals.
"So what teams do you think they will make?" Naruto asked.
"What a drag, they will probably recreate the famous Ino-Shika-Cho trio then make a tracking team and finally a forward assault team." Shikamaru replied.
"Not saying you're wrong Shika but I hope they don't do that while our fathers' team was unmatched in team work and the three of us are friends. I don't see them recreating that team." Ino said.
"I just want a team I can work with. Honestly I don't see most of our classmates working with me very well." Naruto said.
"I hope they took our psych evals into consideration. I mean when forming a team you need people who will work together rather than clashing against one another." Ino said.
"As long as I don't end up with Sasuke I'll be happy." Naruto said plainly.
"I hear you there." Shikamaru said.
Before anything else could be said Iruka walked into the classroom and called everyone to attention.
"Alright class this may be the last time we see each other in this setting. I want you all to remember your training and apply it to your careers and grow into splendid ninja. Now pay attention and listen for your team." Iruka said. "Team one will be…"
Naruto was listening closely for his name and what team he would be on.
"... Team Six will be Ami, Kasumi, and Fuki under Yuhi Krenai. Team Seven will be Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Hinata, and Inuzuka Kiba under Hatake Kakashi. Team Eight will be Uzumaki Naruto, Yamanaka Ino, and Haruno Sakura under Mitarashi Anko. Team Nine is still in rotation from last lear. And lastly team ten will be Aburame Shino, Akimichi Choji, and Nara Shikamaru under Sarutobi Asuma." Iruka said finishing the team list. "You are all dismissed for lunch, be back here at one o'clock to meet your Jonin Squad Leaders."
Naruto, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji all rose from their seats and left the academy they had until one and none of them brought bento boxes for lunch per tradition they always lef the academy for lunch. Today the quartet chose to go to Ramen Ichiraku for lunch. The main reason for his choice was simple: it was close by, you never waited long for your food, and they didn't deny Naruto service.
When the group arrived at Ichiraku they sat at the bar and were instantly greeted by the ramen cook Teuchi.
"Naruto, how are you? And of course Ino-Shika-Cho are here with him, such a happy sight. So what can I get my favorite customers?" Teuchi asked.
"One large Miso Chashu Pork Ramon old man." Naruto said.
"One large house special ramen please." Choji replied.
"A medium veggie ramen with extra fish cakes." Ino ordered her favorite ramen.
"One large beef brisket ramen." Shikamaru replied.
"Coming right up." Teuchi said happy to serve his most loyal customers.
XxXxXxX
Meanwhile in the Hokage's Office nine adults were gathered around a crystal ball. The ball was showing each student wherever they were eating lunch. Currently the ball was focused on Uchiha Sasuke.
"So that's Sasuke?" asked Kakashi, a tall man with silver hair.
"Yes. According to his Psych eval he resents his brother Itachi and has sworn vengeance for killing their clan." Hiruzen replied.
"Hey old Man, show me Naruto." Anko requested.
The gass ball shifted and within it appeared Naruto with his friends laughing at something at Ramen Ichiraku.
"Why did you ask to see Naruto Anko?" asked Kurenai.
"Because he is the child that everyone blames for the Kyubi treating him as if he was the Kyubi itself. I needed to see for myself how he acts." Anko replied.
"His friends saved him from a dark path of loneliness had it not been for Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji Naruto may very well have grown up hating Konoha." Hiruzen said. "Well it's almost time to see your teams dismissed."