Naruto

A Demon's Fate

Chapter II

Naruto was walking the streets of Konoha on her way to the training grounds. She was walking absentmindedly, her head swarming with thoughts about what Gai had said. He said she wasn't the Kyubi, she was still human but the way the villagers acted, the way they talked, they condemned her to a life of loneliness. She closed her eyes and let out a breath of annoyance.

Naruto arrived at the training grounds with an air of annoyance about her until she heard the voice of her friends Neji and Rock Lee. Neji was the first to speak.

"Hey Naruto." Neji said before noticing her annoyed expression. "Trouble with the villagers?"

"What else is new Neji? Just because Gai said I'm not the Kyubi doesn't change the fact that the villagers think I am." Naruto said.

"True Naru-chan but just knowing you're not the Kyubi means you have a family and gives you hope to change the villagers' opinion about you." Lee said with a warm smile.

"The only name I have is Uzumaki and aside from Uzumaki Mito I have found no other records of the Uzumaki in Konoha." Naruto said. "If I had a family then why haven't I heard about them? Why don't I have a heritage or keepsake of that family?"

"Everyone has a family, Naruto." Neji said. "Perhaps we can ask the Hokage about your family."

"Dynamic Entry!" came the bellowing voice of one Maito Gai.

All three genin hit the ground on pure instinct as Gai flew over their heads.

"Ah I see you all have great reflexes. I knew I had a good feeling about you three. Your flames of Youth are just now starting to burn with a little motivation they will burn brightly." Gai said loudly.

"I swear to Kami if either of you begin to talk like Gai-sensei I will prank you to no end." Naruto said.

"Youth? What is Youth?" Lee asked.

"An excellent Question Lee. Youth is unmatched power and courage in battle much like the Will of Fire of Konoha." Gai said.

"I vow by my Youth that I will never falter or waiver in any challenge." Lee shouted youthfully.

Naruto facepalmed herself. "Great, you corrupted Lee."

"That's the spirit Lee!" Gai shouted.

"Neji if you join them I swear to Kami that I will murder you." Naruto said.

"No worries there Naruto I have my own views on strength and will." Neji said.

"Good." Naruto said.

"Now you three listen carefully. Your test will test your abilities as individuals and as a team." Gai started. "Your test is simple in nature but taxing for the individual. You must take these bells from me."

"But there are only two." Naruto pointed out.

"Indeed that is because the one who does not get a bell fails and will be sent back to the academy." Gai said.

"But you're a Jonin and we are fresh out of the academy there is no way for us to fight you on even ground one on…" Naruto began then it dawned on her he said taxing for the individual not for the team. "Oh we're meant to fight you as a team."

"Very good Naruto you saw through my deception. Yes, as an individual there is no way for you to get a bell but if you work as a team then you can get these bells from me." Gai congratulated her.

"But then how do we decide who gets the bells?" Neji asked.

"Try and get the bells first then worry about who gets them." Gai said seriously.

Gai adopted a ready stance after securing the bells to his hitai-ate around his waist. Naruto, Neji, and Lee all adopted their own stances indicating they were ready to face their sensei.

XxXxXxX

A few hours later and team nine were all on the ground breathing heavily out of energy.

"We can't beat him." Neji said between breaths.

"I think that's the point Neji." Naruto said.

"But we can't give up. Our Springtime of Youth demands we persevere." Lee panted.

"You three did well, you lasted a lot longer than I thought you would. Congratulations, you three passed the test." Gai said.

"But we didn't get the bells?" Naruto asked.

"I never expected you to actually get the bells. I wanted to test your will and abilities. You knew you would never beat me alone so you teamed up this meant I had to fight you as a group and divide my attention. Still even as a group three genin stood little chance of victory." Gai explained. "Now who wants lunch?"

"Anything besides Ramen." Naruto said.

"Naruto, I thought you loved ramen?" Lee asked.

"Lee, I eat Ramen almost everyday when I'm alone so yes I want something other than ramen." Naruto reminded her friend.

"I know just the place!" Gai shouted.

XxXxXxX

After Gai treated his team to lunch he was standing in the Hokage's office with the other team leaders giving their reports on their team tests. So far most of the teams had failed.

"Team Six?" Hiruzen asked.

"Passed but not without some difficulty." Kurenai said. "With any luck they might shape up into a decent team."

"Team Seven?" Hiruzen asked.

"They passed." was all Kakashi said with no desire to explain the test itself.

"Team Eight?" Hiruzen asked.

"Passed." Anko said proud of her team.

"Team Nine?" Hiruzen asked.

"Their flames of Youth shine bright." Gai replied loudly.

"And lastly team ten?" Hiruzen asked.

"Passed." Asuma replied.

"Good now I want all of you to leave except Gai." Hiruzen said.

As the team leaders left, leaving only Gai and the Hokage alone in the room.

"Gai I chose you to be Naruto's sensei for a reason." Hiruzen began.

"What reason is Hokage-sama?" Gai asked.

"Because of your unique view of the world. You don't see her as the Kyubi like the villagers do. And you won't ignore her training like Kakashi." Hiruzen continued. "You see Naruto believes herself to be the Kyubi in human form, something that weighs on my heart. I know you can return to her the once happy child from before she was poisoned by the hatred of the villagers."

"I will not fail you Hokage-sama." Gai said.

"Gai it is not me you have to worry about failing. Under your guidance Naruto can become a kunoichi of unrivaled power in her own right. However she knows nothing of her parents, something I regret. Give her this Katana that belonged to her mother. Train Naruto in the art of the sword and maybe Naruto can reclaim a piece of her clan's heritage that was stolen from her." Hiruzen said, handing Gai a katana encased in a crimson sheath.

"Hokage-sama, is this the Benihime?" Gai asked.

"Yes Gai it is. Naruto's mother is Uzumaki Kushina. Famed as the Shinku no Shi." Hiruzen explained to Gai. "Naruto knows nothing of her mother or father even though she has tried to find records of her parents she has found nothing. This sword is her birthright. Train Naruto on how to wield its power."

"If I may ask Hokage-sama who was Naruto's father." Gai asked.

"No one knows. Kushina never married and only rumors of her being courted by Minato exist." Hiruzne said with a sigh. "It's true Minato was there when Kushina gave birth to Naruto but that was to help keep the Kyubi from escaping while Kushina was in labor."

"I see." Gai said solemnly. "It's a shame I can't offer Naruto more about her parents but I can teach her about her mother and this sword."

"Good. I know you won't fail Naruto." Hiruzen said. "Dismissed."