DISCLAIMER: See chapter 1.
Just before Iruka-sensei left, he told Naruto to stay put. After that fiasco last night, a few of the jounins still wanted his blood, so it was best to lay low for a while. ...Although he was interested in seeing this other technique Naruto had mentioned. He invited the boy back into the forest later that night, away from unwanted attention. He could show off there.
But until then, Naruto was not to leave his house. Crap. Looking around, the boy realized that this could be harder than it seemed at first. His ramen supply was running low, and he had little or nothing to do to occupy his be. "You knew where he was, but still had all of us looking on our own?"
"I didn't say I knew where he was. I just watched him." The Third turned and showed a slight grin.
Iruka walked over and stood next to his superior. "What suprised me was that ...you-know-who wasn't freed."
"Yes." He paused. "The biggest fear was that the Kyuubi would somehow use the power of the Scroll of Seals to take control and free himself, ...but it's almost as if it's quieter now than it was before..." A look of worry washed over the Hokage's wrinkled face. Should he tell Iruka about the strange light? Did he really know what to say
Iruka walked over and stood next to his superior. "What suprised me was that ...you-know-who wasn't freed."
"Yes." He paused. "The biggest fear was that the Kyuubi would somehow use the power of the Scroll of Seals to take control and free himself, ...but it's almost as if it's quieter now than it was before..." A look of worry washed over the Hokage's wrinkled face. Should he tell Iruka about the strange light? Did he really know what to say?
xxxxxxxxx
After what seemed like weeks, night finally came. Naruto snuck outside, being careful to stay on the rooftops. Which was odd, because normally he wouldn't care. Hell, normally he'd have been there long ago! Oh, well.
The forest was much quieter without the urge to survive pounding in his ears, or the distant rustle of others closing in on him. It was almost ...too peaceful. When he arrived, the blonde was not suprised to find the site empty of life. Iruka-sensei probably wouldn't show up for some time.
"There you are," a new voice growled. Naruto turned and saw a frightening sight. Squatting in the branches of a nearby tree was Mizuki-sensei, though worn out and aggrivated. "Why the hell didn't you come here LAST night, like I told you!" With that, he jumped down to the ground, grunting as he landed.
This was almost too much. The scared blonde began backing away, the dry grass crackling under his feet.
"You even gave the scroll back. How sad." The white-haired shinobi unstrapped the large shuriken from his back. "I guess I'll just have to kill you. Heh... the village would consider me a hero, for getting rid of a monster like you."
"M-m-monster? What the hell... what the hell are you...?"
"Oh, of course you don't know. So I'll tell you..." There was a hint of madness in his voice. "You see, dear little Naruto, you're actually..."
"That's ENOUGH!" Iruka lauched out from behind the storage hut, flinging a kunai, which Mizuki easily blocked. This was followed by three more, each knocked out of the air by the other's larger weapon. Using his free hand, the white-haired jounin struck Iruka with several smaller shurikens, pining him to the side of the hut.
"Now where were we? Ah, yes..." Mizuki's glare returned to Naruto. "12 years ago, a rule was created in the village. A rule that no one was supposed to tell you about."
"A rule... no one was supposed to tell me?"
"That's right."
"Stop, Mizuki!" Iruka screamed from where he stood.
A look of madness appeared on the jounin's face. "The rule is that nobody is allowed to talk about the fact that you are the Demon Fox."
Naruto's breath stopped cold.
"It means that you ...are the Nine Tails Fox Demon that killed Iruka's parents and destroyed the village!"
Iruka finally managed to free himself. "STOP IT!"
Naruto was in shock. He could not move, even if he wanted to.
"You have been lied to by everyone. Didn't you find it odd how everyone hated you?"
The blonde was no longer listening to this little speech. Memories were flashing through his head, visions of the people of the village looking on him with cold eyes. Eyes that looked at him as if he was nothing. A monster.
It all made perfect sense.
Iruka limped over, still bleeding, and stood between Mizuki and his student. "You were mostly right, Mizuki. About the Demon Fox, and all. However, ..." he looked back at Naruto. "He is not the Demon Fox. He is Uzumaki Naruto, of Konoha village... and my student."
The young blonde was in tears now. For the first time in his life, Naruto had been acknowledged. Someone actually cared enough to admit that he was a human being like everyone else!
The man before them simply spat in response. "Well, if you're going to protect him," Mizuki started spinning the immense shuriken. "...I guess I'll have to cut you both down!"
The next several moments happened in a flash. Mizuki charged, whirling his weapon with killer intent. Naruto managed to quickly dash around Iruka and land a kick in Mizuki's face, dead center. This knocked the older man back several feet, the shuriken flying off into the distance.
"Don't ...touch ...him." Naruto's voice was cold and firm. "Or I'll kill you."
Mizuki recovered and lept to his feet. "What could a brat like you do against me, a jounin? I'll tear you apart!"
Naruto was ready. He formed the appropriate seals and screamed "Kage Bunshin no Juutsu!" Instantly there were hundreds of Narutos; several in the tree branches, most on the ground, but all glaring at one person.
"Is this supposed to scare me?" The white-haired jounin challenged with a slight shake in his voice.
Iruka, meanwhile, was stunned. /Did he say Kage Bunshin? Shadow Clones? He had a hard enough time making a regular clone for the exam the other day/ But his eyes were not decieving him; there were hundreds of real bodies in a clearing that, not a minute ago, was home to only three. /So they're not illusions, but physical bodies. ...Is this the power of the Scroll/
Needless to say, the rest of the fight was one-sided. Even a high-level ninja can only do so much when he's completely overwhelmed.
xxxxxxxxx
The two stayed in the clearing for about an hour, just so that Iruka could heal enough to get up and walk. Before they started off however, the teacher turned to the student and said "Close your eyes for a moment."
Naruto obeyed, allowing darkness to engulf his vision once again. He could feel Iruka-sensei doing something with his goggles, but he didn't ask. He just waited. ...And waited. "Can I open them yet?"
"Okay, you can open them."
In the dim starlight, it took the blonde a moment to realize that Iruka-sensei was no longer wearing his forehead protector. And that he was also holding Naruto's goggles in his hand. And that he was grinning.
"Congratulations on graduating."
Well, that was cool. I managed to take the latter half of the first episode and re-write it into two good-size chapters. I think I may have something, here.
Anywho, read and review! Opinions are liked and welcomed! Hell, I'll take flames, too!
BTW, Mienai translates into invisible. And thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter! Just wait 'til you see what I'll think of next!