Hey, I'm back! .;; Anyway, here's the next chapter! Enough of my yakking, let's get it on!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto. But I DO own Kazara Yume.

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Shinzui opened his eyes, and remembered something. Dammit, I'm freaking blind with out my glasses... The fox chuckled.

So you are, kit. I thought you were exaggerating. Shinzui froze.

You've been looking through my memories, haven't you you stupid fox? Kyuubi snorted.

Please, what ELSE was there to do? You were unconscious, remember? Shinzui sighed.

I don't suppose you'd want to fix my eyes, would you? The fox grumbled.

WHY!?! Shinzui sighed. ... I guess it wouldn't be good if you can't see anything... He grumbled. Alright kit, you win. But this is going to hurt. That was the queen of all understatements. Shinzui curled into a fetal position and put his hands over his eyes, quashing the urge to scream and claw his eyes out. Bear with it kit, it's almost done. after what seemed an eternity, the pain stopped. He slowly sat up, wincing in pain as sunlight forced its way into his sensitive optic nerves. He gingerly climbed out of bed and walked over to a mirror that was on the wall. He almost didn't recognize the person looking back at him. He was eight, but a little taller than a normal eight-year-old. His emerald green hair reached almost to his chin.

Someone must have been cutting it... he mused. He looked around, and realized that he saw better than he had with his glasses on. He looked closely at his eyes, and drew in a sharp breath. They were still a chocolate brown, but the pupils... his pupils had elongated into slits.

They look... kinda cool. Kyuubi just snorted.

I'll take that as a compliment. You DO know about the younger kit's job, right? Shinzui frowned.

Job? What job?

He's supposed to fill his mother's shoes, since she was too weak. The fox laughed.

Just what IS his destiny then, o great fox? Shinzui asked sarcastically. The fox cackled again.

That's the irony! He's supposed to be a shinigami, someone who banishes demons and evil spirits, yet he has the greatest youma sealed inside of him... Kyuubi laughed out loud, sensing that Shinzui's mind was reeling. He's nowhere near being ready though. I have a proposition for you, kit.

Oh really? And what would that be?

You seem to care for the kit. If you become a shinigami in his place, he'll be free of that burden. Shinzui thought about it.

Fine. You have yourself a Shinigami. The fox laughed.

Very good! The younger kit's too hot tempered to be a proper one. A black robe with white trim appeared in the corner of the room, along with a full-sized katana. That is what you must wear. NO PROTESTS!! Shinzui discarded the opinion he was about to voice. The sword is called Konpakutou, or Soulcutter. The fox cursed. Someone's coming. I'll leave you in peace for now. I expect you to wear that, and get the old man to enroll you in the academy for the Genin exams. You should already know Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, as well as the basics.

Yeah right. But thanks for the techniques fox. Shinzui turned and looked at the door just in time to see a three-year-old barrel through. He was dressed in an oversized T-shirt that was obviously a hand-me-down, and a pair of shorts. There was a mess of dirty blonde hair atop his head, and the whisker-like marks on his cheeks left no doubt who he was. His small blue eyes widened in shock at what they saw.

"Long time no see, Naruto." Shinzui stretched his back, and it readjusted with an audible pop.

"Are... YOU'RE AWAAAKE!!!" Naruto launched himself at Shinzui. The older boy managed to catch himself and not fall over, and he hugged Naruto back.

"Yeah, I'm awake. How have you been, squirt?" He looked up as more people entered the room. There was a boy that he estimated to be twelve. He had his brown hair up in a ponytail, had a mesh shirt on under a white t-shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals, but the telltale sign of his identity was a scar across the bridge of his nose. Iruka...

"Oh, you're awake! Nice to meet you. I'm Umino Iruka."

"Subete Shinzui. Have you been the one looking after my Otouto?" Iruka nodded. "Thank you." Naruto squirmed out of the hug.

"Iruka-niisan's really nice! He makes sure I have food an' he even treats me to Ramen at Oji-san's place!!" The Hokage walked into the room.

"Iruka-kun, Naruto-kun, I need to speak to Shinzui-kun alone for a moment please." Iruka dragged Naruto out into the hallway, ignoring his protests. Sarutobi turned to him.

"Long time no see, Sarutobi-san. What can I do for you?" he walked over, took off the hospital gown, and started putting on the clothes like he'd been instructed to. Sarutobi raised an eyebrow.

"You're going to do Naruto's job?" Shinzui nodded as he slipped socks and sandals on.

"I don't think he's ready yet. Oh, and Sarutobi-san?"

"Nani?"

"You think you could include me in the Genin exams for this year?" Sarutobi's other eyebrow rose.

"You think you're ready? You know that the other adults won't like you." Shinzui shrugged as he slung the katana's belt over his chest and shoulder, because it was too long to be held normally.

"I'm used to being unpopular. Nothing new for me. I take it that's a 'yes'?" Sarutobi sighed.

"Yes, that's a yes. Iruka was headed to the academy now anyway. I'll call him in and tell him." He called Iruka back into the room, and Naruto followed him.

"WOAH!!! You look really cool, Shinzui-niisan!!" Naruto yelled as he ran over. "Is that a real katana!? Lemme see!! Onegai!! Onegai!!" Shinzui shook his head.

"No way I'm letting you hold something as sharp as a katana, squirt."

"Iruka-kun, I have a favor to ask of you." Sarutobi said as he pulled a scroll out.

"What is it, Hokage-sama?" Iruka took the scroll.

"Give that scroll to Dehoudai-sensei. Shinzui-kun will be taking the Genin examination with you."

"NANI!?! But he's EIGHT!!" Iruka protested. "And the adults won't like him because-"

"Iruka-san." Shinzui cut him off. "I'm well aware that I won't be very popular with the teachers. I can do this, however." Sarutobi walked out of the room with them.

"I was going to watch over them anyway. I'll make sure he gets treated fairly. Let's go. Naruto-kun, go stay with Teuchi-san and Ayame-chan."

"YAY!! RAMEN!!" Naruto ran out of the room at a high rate of speed. Shinzui shook his head, and Iruka laughed.

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"Ne, Shinzui?" Iruka asked while they walked to the academy.

"Yes, Iruka-san?"

"Please, just Iruka. I was wondering why you're wearing that outfit... and why do you have a sword, let alone one that's so big?" Shinzui glanced at Sarutobi, and at his nod, he turned back to Iruka.

"I'm going to be a shinigami." Iruka's eyes practically bulged out of his head.

"NAAANII!?!?!" Iruka looked at Sarutobi. "Is that true, Hokage-sama!?"

"Yes it is. We've been without one for so long I can't wait until he's ready. Here we are! Iruka, you come inside the classroom with me. Shinzui, please wait in the hall." Shinzui nodded, and the other two went inside. Shinzui concentrated, trying to hear what they were saying.

Here kit. This should help. His hearing increased, and he could hear the conversation going on inside.

P.O.V. CHANGE

(Kurenai POV)

Kurenai was tapping her foot. Where the hell is Iruka!? He better not be late, or he'll be disqualified AGAIN... She looked at the door as it opened, and Hokage-sama walked in, followed by Iruka, who headed up to his seat next to her.

"You're late again!" she hissed at him. He rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"Gomen, but I was checking on him again..." Kurenai shook her head. She didn't have anything against either of the brothers that held the fox demon. It's not like they had asked to have it sealed in them. Dehoudai-sensei cleared his throat, and the students stopped jabbering.

"Class, we'll be having a new student join us today. He's only eight, but Hokage-sama has recommended him for the Genin examination." A collective murmur traveled around the class.

Only eight!? Kurenai thought. Holy crap, this kid must be good! The door opened, and a boy stepped in. his emerald green hair almost reached his chin. He was dressed in a black robe with white trim and belt, and he carried a full-sized katana on his back, because it was too large to be fastened normally. His robe and sword identified him as something that hadn't been seen in Konoha for over 20 years.

"A shinigami..." Kurenai whispered. The boy stood in front of the teacher's desk, and bowed respectfully to the class.

"Ore wa Subete Shinzui desu." Hokage-sama coughed and stepped forward.

"As I'm sure you've noticed, Subete-kun here is indeed a shinigami, or at least in training to be one. I think there's a seat open by Iruka-kun in the back." Shinzui nodded and walked up to the aforementioned seat and nodded at Iruka.

"Konnichiwa, Iruka-san." Iruka grinned.

"Shinzui, this is Yuuhi Kurenai. Kurenai-chan, this is Subete Shinzui." Shinzui bowed again.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Yuuhi-san." Kurenai blinked.

"Call me Kurenai. Yuuhi-san makes me feel old." He nodded as he took his seat. Kurenai looked at her sensei and noticed that he looked beyond furious; he looked as if he was using every ounce of willpower not to kill Shinzui right then and there.

But why would Dehoudai-sensei want to kill him, unless... Her eyes widened in realization. She looked at Shinzui more closely, and she detected a very faint signature of demonic Chakra on him. Could he be... one of the Kyuubi's vessels!? Dehoudai-sensei cleared his throat.

"We will now begin the Genin examination. When I call your name, please make the number of bunshins I ask you to. It will vary based on your skill level." He proceeded to call the class in alphabetical order, until he called Shinzui. He sneered, and looked Shinzui up and down. "If you're as much of a genius as Hokage-sama says, then twenty bunshins shouldn't be a problem, right?" Kurenai gasped.

TWENTY!? WHAT THE HELL IS HE THINKING!?! Shinzui shrugged and made a hand seal.

"Bunshin no Jutsu!" In a poof of smoke, there were twenty-one bunshins standing at the front of the classroom. "Satisfied?" they all asked in stereo. Dehoudai growled.

"YOU FAIL!! A CHILD PRODIGY SHOULD BE ABLE TO—" Shinzui made another hand seal.

"Fine then. KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!!!" When the smoke cleared, every square inch of the walls, floor and ceiling were covered in Shinzui clones. "Do I pass now, sensei?" Kurenai had never heard more loathing and spite packed into one word before, let alone an eight-year-old use a Jounin-level Jutsu like Kage Bunshin before. Before Dehoudai could say anything, Hokage-sama stepped forward and handed Shinzui a hitai-ate.

"Congratulations on passing the test, Shinzui-kun." All of the clones popped out of existence, and Shinzui bowed respectfully as he took the forehead protector. He tied it around his neck as he walked back up to his seat.

P.O.V. CHANGE

(Shinzui POV)

I can't believe that jerk! I'd like to take Konpakutou and shove it up his- Shinzui's rant was interrupted by the fox.

My my my, looks like the kit has a temper!

SHUT IT, YOU STUPID FOX!!! The fox laughed.

Yeah, you DO have a temper. Never thought you could be this vehement. Shinzui chuckled darkly.

You haven't seen mad yet, fox. He flopped into his seat next to Iruka.

"Good job, Shinzui! I can't believe you actually know a Jounin-level Jutsu!" Iruka said. Shinzui shrugged.

"I need to advance through ninja ranks so I can get a decent salary. I have a feeling Naruto's appetite is going to skyrocket when he gets older." Dehoudai called Iruka to the front of the classroom. He gulped and walked down.

If you don't like that teacher, why not let me kill him? the fox offered. All you have to do is let me have control... Shinzui let out a low growl.

NO means NO, baka kitsune.

"Daijoubu ka, Shinzui-kun?" Kurenai asked him.

"Yeah, I just have a little headache." He looked back at the front of the classroom just in time to see Iruka form four perfect bunshins, and one that was lying on the floor. He only had to make four, so he passed. Kurenai formed hers perfectly. Shinzui whistled.

"Kurenai-chan has the best grades when it comes to Genjutsu." Shinzui nodded.

"I can see why." Dehoudai began listing off the teams as Kurenai bounced back up to her seat. She hugged Iruka, whose face looked fit to fry an egg on.

"Team 1: Umino Iruka, Yuuhi Kurenai, and the fo- er, Subete Shinzui." That statement earned him a death glare from the Hokage and Shinzui. "Your meeting place is training field one. You are dismissed." The three of them left the classroom, but Shinzui heard him mutter "Good riddance." Shinzui glared at him, and funneled a little of the fox's Chakra into his eyes so they turned red. The man cringed visibly.

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There's the next chapter of the story! And, I have received word from ErikKoekkoek, so the pairing is... NaruIno!! And, as he pointed out, both Anko and Kurenai are somewhat old for my OC. But, I already had a pairing in mind, it's Ayame, the Ichiraku Ramen Stand girl!! And now, the reviews!!

ErikKoekkoek-sama – Um, yeah, they're a little old Oo I'll try and avoid that...

Night-Owl123 – Soon enough? Thanks!

Metanaito-san – Yeah, I think that's more stupidity... Oo;;;

TomokiG-san – GASP! Someone actually gave me constructive criticism!! XD I am honored, my friend! I shall endeavor to heed your advice.

Dragon Man 180 – Yeah, I noticed that all of the Sis were girls... --;; Wish me luck as a big bro!

The Shinobi – I'm going out of town, but I'm trying to update both stories before I go.

sephynarutocloud – Um, thanks, I think...

Inferno-Dragonz – Yeah, I'm going for longer chapters from now on. --;;;

Well, let me know what you think! Flames will be loaded in a ballistic missle and fired back to the sender. Just kidding!