DON'T OWN NARUTO
Author's Notes: Updated 7/18/05
Rising Phoenix
A couple days later, Naruto and Itachi made it back to Konoha. Naruto was wearing an orange jacket with black running on the shoulders running down to the bottom of the sleeves. Naruto was also wearing orange pants with some bandage wrapping around his right thigh. (What Naruto wore in the beginning of the second arc) Itachi was currently using the most advanced version of the transformation technique in order to conceal his identity. Itachi's form during the transformation was a man with short brown hair, red eyes, and a cloak that's similar in design with that of the Akatsuki, just without the clouds. Kyuubi on the other hand was currently inside the seal since the body she was using ran out of chakra.
At the gates leading into Konoha, the guards on patrol looked at Naruto and Itachi.
"Here are our passports for entry into the village." Itachi said, handing the passports to the guards.
"Hmm, Phoenix and Weasel." The guard mumbled to himself. "Everything looks alright, we grant you entrance into our village. Welcome to Konoha Village." The guard replied, motioning the others to open the gates.
Naruto and Itachi entered the village and were wondering on what they should do.
"Why don't we see the Hokage and get you registered for the Genin Exams?" Itachi asked.
"Not right now. There's something that I want to do before I see the Hokage." Naruto replied.
"Oh, and what's that." Itachi asked with curiosity.
"I'm going to paint the Hokage Monument and announce my return here in Hidden Leaf." Naruto said with a smile.
Before Itachi could reply, Naruto summoned several Shadow Replications and ordered them to start painting the Hokage Monument.
"While they do the painting, why don't we head over to the Hokage's office?" Naruto suggested.
Itachi didn't reply and started heading off for the direction of the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama!" A Chuunin yelled, bursting into the Hokage's office.
"What is it?" the Hokage asked.
"Some vandals are desecrating the Hokage Monument with paint." The Chuunin replied.
'How troublesome' the Hokage thought in a Shikamaru type manner.
"Let me see what's going on then." The Hokage replied.
The third got up from his desk and was grateful for the disturbance because that meant that he could put his paperwork on hold, even if it's just for a little while.
The third left the room and entered the balcony that was located at the top of the tower. He was shocked at what he saw next. The Hokage monument had a bunch of pictures and drawings on it. This was mostly done on the first and second Hokages. On the third, he was wearing red on the lips and the entire sculpture of the third looked a lot more feminine. The forth seems like it received the least amount of damage because all that was drawn on it were three lines that were marked on each side of its face.
'I can't believe that I got the worst treatment out of the four sculptures.' The third complained.
The third returned to his office and saw that the Chuunin was still in there.
"Did you catch the culprit responsible?" the third asked.
"Uh, no sir." The Chuunin said reluctantly.
"Send a Genin team or two to clean it up as a D class mission. That is all." The third ordered.
"Yes sir." The Chuunin replied and left the room.
"Lord Hokage." The thirds secretary replied oven an intercom system.
"What is it now?" the third asked.
"There are two people wanting to see you sir. One of them said that he was Naruto." The secretary replied.
"Naruto?" the third asked.
"Yes sir." The secretary said.
"Bring him and the other person in then." The third ordered.
"Right away sir." The secretary then cut off her side of the intercom system.
'Uzumaki Naruto. It's been five years now since you've left. I wonder how much you changed.' The third thought.
"Hey old man, you in here." A familiar voice said out loud.
The third looked at the source of the voice and saw that it was definitely Naruto. He could easily tell because of Naruto's ocean blue eyes and the three whisker marks that were on his face.
"Naruto." The third said in a warm voice. "How have you been?"
"It's been great. I had a lot of fun while I was away." Naruto said happily.
"That's good to hear. Who this?" the third asked, pointing to Itachi.
"Do you think you can stay still until after he has a chance to explain himself?" Naruto asked.
'This seems quite serious' the third thought.
"I promise." He said out loud.
"Okay, you can reveal yourself then." Naruto said to Itachi.
Itachi released the transformation technique and the third was shocked at what he saw.
"Uchiha Itachi." The third said in a quiet, serious voice.
"Don't forget, you promised to stay still until you hear what he has to say." Naruto replied.
The third was still shocked at seeing Itachi inside the room with him and Naruto. Five years ago, he was classified as an S class missing-nin after the Uchiha Massacre. Itachi wasn't heard from after that incident and it was even rumored that he committed suicide because of the guilt he had for killing his entire family but his little brother.
"I know," the third said as he looked at Naruto. "Now Itachi, let me hear what you have to say." The third said, now looking at Itachi.
Itachi told the third Hokage the same story that he told Naruto and Shinta five years ago. When Itachi finished with his story, the third had some serious concerns about how Itachi dealt with the situations but decided to keep them to himself for now.
"Do you think that there's any way for Itachi-aniki to be taken off of the Bingo book and be restored as a member of Konoha?" Naruto asked.
"I know of a couple ways, but it's going to be tricky. A lot of people dislike Itachi for what he did and a lot of the shinobi here in the village already thinks he's dead." The third answered.
"Thanks. That would mean a lot if he's restored as a member of Konoha." Naruto replied gratefully.
"Enough about that for now, what about you? What have you been up to during the five years you were with the Rising Phoenix?" The third asked Naruto, brimming with curiosity.
Naruto then told the third about what happened during the five years.
"Not much has happened. I learned a lot of techniques while I was away. For a weird reason, my body seems incapable of doing simple techniques like the regular replication technique. I mastered the Shadow Replication, the Water Clone technique, and the Mud Replication, (the one that Orochimaru used in the anime series) easily enough.
"During my first year of training, we worked mostly on chakra control because to say it frankly, it sucked. Also, on the first day of my training, Phoenix and I," Naruto said, remembering that there weren't a lot of people who knew about the Rising Phoenix's true name, "met up with Itachi and after that, Itachi help Phoenix with my training. Also, earlier that day, Phoenix used a technique in which we could travel into my mind and speak with Kyuubi. After we spoke with Kyuubi, she decided to help train me to become the best ninja in the world and help me complete my dream of becoming Hokage."
The third was a little startled when Naruto said that he met the Kyuubi, but smiled immediately when Naruto mentioned his dream of becoming Hokage.
"After we met up with Itachi-aniki, I started to learn more on chakra control, taijutsu, history, and anatomy. After I mastered the chakra control exercises, I created a modified version of the Shadow Replication technique so that Kyuubi could have a physical body to teach me in." Naruto continued.
Naruto noticed the look on the third's face when Naruto mentioned that Kyuubi was going to have a physical body.
"If you're worried about the seal breaking, that is virtually impossible." Naruto said, trying to calm the third a little.
The third relaxed and waited for Naruto to continue.
"Anyways, the body that the Kyuubi uses can use up to 5 mid level techniques, which consists of C rank and lower, or 2 high level ones, which are A or B ranked techniques. The body then disappears when it runs out of chakra. The body also has a time limit of one day if no techniques were used.
"During the second year, I continued working on my chakra control, anatomy, and a little more history, specifically, the history of the Jinchuuriki." Naruto said.
"The Jinchuuriki?" the third asked, interrupting Naruto's story.
"That is what a demon carrier is called." Naruto replied.
The third nodded his head and motioned Naruto to proceed with his story.
Naruto continued with the story saying how Shinta, who was known as Phoenix to the third, Itachi, and Kyuubi were helping him with all sorts of things. Naruto also kept the part where he learned the Rasengan secret just so that he would have a trump card later on that only two people know about. At the end, the third had a few questions to ask.
"So Naruto, what type of techniques do you know?" the third asked.
"I know 2 B ranked fire techniques, the Fire Dragon Flame and the Dragon Fire techniques. I also know the Water Dragon Missile, Water Replication, and the Water Prison techniques. I also have one earth type technique which is the Inner Decapitation Technique." Naruto answered. "What sucks about most of the Ninjutsu techniques that I know is that they take up too much chakra for me to use simultaneously at the moment. Because of that, I decided to become a Taijutsu specialist using my three different types of clones as part of my fighting style. I was also taught the Phoenix Style that the Rising Phoenix wielded."
The third was quite impressed with the part where Naruto mentioned that his taijutsu style consisted of the use of clones. He was also a little surprised that he learned the Phoenix Style of combat.
"You say that you have the Fire Dragon Flame technique, how far can you fire the flame for that technique?" the third asked.
"Even though I know the technique, it takes up a lot of my chakra to use at the moment but I can fire the flame for about five to ten feet, depending on how much chakra I use." Naruto replied.
'It surprises me that he can even use the technique. The Fire Dragon Flame Technique is the strongest of the fire elemental techniques.' The third thought.
"Alright then, you said that you had the Dragon Fire Technique, am I right?" the third questioned.
Naruto nodded his head.
"Isn't that technique supposed to be a technique solely for the Uchiha Clan?" the third asked, looking at Itachi.
"I felt that Naruto was worthy of using that technique, so I taught it to him." Itachi simply replied.
"That'll be all then. Tell me, do the two of you have any place to stay for awhile?" the third asked.
Both Naruto and Itachi shifted uncomfortably.
"I see, Naruto, why don't you take this key and head for the directions stated on this map." The third said, grabbing a key and a map out of a secret compartment in his desk.
"What's this for?" Naruto asked.
"I assume that you know about you're father?" the third asked Naruto.
"Yeah." Naruto replied.
"The map will lead to you father's house. The key is to open up the main gates to your new house. Once inside, there will be two more to your right when you enter. Those two keys are for whoever you choose to hold them."
"Thanks old man." Naruto said ecstatically.
"Hn." Itachi replied.
"We'll be heading off then." Naruto said out loud.
When Naruto and Itachi were at the doors leading out of the office, the third had something to say.
"Naruto, don't forget to head for the Ninja Academy tomorrow. I'll have you registered to take the exams tomorrow, so all you have to do is show up." The third said with a smile.
"Thanks old man." Naruto replied.
As soon as both Naruto and Itachi left the room, Naruto spoke from the other side of the doors.
"Hey old man, I hope you liked the way I designed you sculpture at the Hokage Monument."
Naruto left quickly after that with Itachi following shortly behind.
'NARUTO!' the third thought in his head.
Right after the two left the third's office, Itachi placed the transformation technique that he was using earlier.
Naruto and Itachi were now wondering around Konoha wondering what to do next.
"Naruto, give me the key to the house. I'm going to head there right now and check on the living conditions within it." Itachi ordered.
Naruto didn't see any harm in giving Itachi the key and map and decided to hand it over. Itachi left and headed towards the house following the instructions stated on the map.
'Ah man, now I'm alone.' Naruto thought.
'Did you forget little ole me?' Kyuubi replied through Naruto's head.
Right after Naruto and Kyuubi established contact, the two discovered that they could communicate with each other telepathically. This didn't work thought when Kyuubi transfers her consciousness over to one of Naruto's modified replications.
'I didn't forget. I'm just wondering what I should do next.' Naruto replied to Kyuubi.
'Why don't you get something to eat' Kyuubi suggested.
'That sounds good.' Naruto thought.
'I'm going to get some rest soon. Talk to you later.' Kyuubi said, cutting of the mental link between the two.
'Might as well get some ramen then. I remember that Ichiraku's was just around this area.'
Naruto went over a couple blocks and found Ichiraku's ramen right were it used to be, although it looked a little run down since the last time Naruto ate there, which was before he left.
Naruto entered the Ramen stand and heard the owner mutter something after he sighed.
"I wish that brat was back. With him around, business was booming. Heck, I'd give him a free meal if he was here right now."
"Hey old man, give me some miso ramen." Naruto asked after he sat down on a stool.
Mr. Ichiraku looked at the customer and gasped. Ayame, Ichiraku's daughter, heard her father gasp and went to see what it was about. When she saw Naruto, she thought she was seeing a ghost.
"Hey old man, I thought I ordered miso ramen." Naruto said, starting to get annoyed.
"Naruto, is that you?" Mr. Ichiraku asked.
"Yeah it's me. Uzumaki Naruto is back for good." Naruto said loudly.
"Ayame, don't just stand there. You heard what he said, get him a miso ramen." Mr. Ichiraku said in a hurried voice.
Ayame grabbed left the counter and started making the ramen.
"So Naruto, where you've been, business has absolutely been dreadful after you left?" Mr. Ichiraku replied with curiosity.
"I've been training for the last few years." Naruto said, anxious to get some Ichiraku ramen.
"Was the training hard?" Mr. Ichiraku asked.
"The training itself was hard, but what was worse was that I couldn't eat any ramen for the last five years. I might've had a bowl or two at the most, but what I really want was some good Ichiraku ramen." Naruto replied.
"That's harsh. I hope everything was worth it." Mr. Ichiraku said, frowning at the part where Naruto said he had ramen only once or twice during the entire time he was gone.
"Finished." Ayame said from the back.
Mr. Ichiraku gave the bowl to Naruto.
"Eat up." Mr. Ichiraku said with a smile.
"Let's eat." Naruto said after breaking up a pair of chopsticks.
After eating at Ichiraku's Naruto wondered what he would do next. He decided to head over to a part of the forest nearby and be alone for a little bit. Naruto entered the forest and soon found a hill where a boy the same age as him was laying at. Naruto walked up to him and lay down beside him.
"Hi, my name's Naruto. What's yours?" Naruto asked.
"I'm Shikamaru." Shikamaru answered.
"I take it that you like to watch the clouds float by, don't you?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah," Shikamaru replied, "right now, I'm just waiting for a friend of mine to show up."
A minute later, another boy appeared and lied down beside Shikamaru.
"Hey Shikamaru, who's the new guy?" the boy asked.
"His name is Naruto." Shikamaru said to the boy.
"Hey Naruto, I'm Chouji, nice to meet you." Chouji said to Naruto.
"Hey." Naruto said to Chouji.
The three of them sat down in silence and a couple hours flew by without the three realizing it.
"Hey Naruto, are you ready to head home?" Itachi asked after locating Naruto.
Naruto got up and looked at Shikamaru and Chouji.
"I'll see you guys later then." Naruto said to the two of them.
"Later." Chouji said, while Shikamaru nodded his head.
After following Itachi for what seems to be hours, Naruto finally made it to the house that used to be his fathers. The house itself wasn't very special; it looked like a normal two story house with a dojo connected right beside it.
Naruto entered the house and saw the two keys that the third mentioned and placed them inside his pocket. Naruto saw that Itachi was heading over to the dojo and Naruto decided to follow.
Inside the dojo, Itachi pointed to a chest and Naruto saw that there was a note written on the chest.
"I didn't read it yet. I figured that you should be the one who reads it first." Itachi replied.
Naruto went up to the chest and grabbed the note that was above it. Naruto read the contents of the note and Naruto was in tears after reading the contents of it. The note states that the Kyuubi was nearing this house when he was writing this note. He wished that Naruto would be treated as a hero but the fourth knew how the village would react and apologized in advance. Later in the note, the fourth started that the chest that the note was above, contained the entire fighting style of the fourth and that he wished for Naruto to learn them.
Itachi saw that Naruto was crying and moved to where Naruto was at. Naruto gave the note to Itachi and he started reading it.
"Do you want me to help you learn the techniques that are in the chest?" Itachi asked.
"Yeah, I want to learn these skills and with the new skills that I learn, I'll protect those who are my precious people." Naruto vowed.
"Don't forget about your nindo now." Itachi replied.
"I know, I don't go back on my words." Naruto said with enthusiasm.
"Why don't I show you around the house?" Itachi asked.
"Yeah sure." Naruto replied.
The next morning, Naruto woke up bright and early. Naruto looked around his surroundings, forgetting that he was at his new house for a second. After realization kicked in, Naruto went to the nearest bathroom and got ready to head to the Ninja Academy.
An hour later, Naruto was in front of the Ninja Academy. He was feeling a little bit nervous because this was his first step towards become a Hokage. Naruto entered the building and soon found a man with a scar going across near the top of his nose.
"Um excuse me," Naruto said to the man, "can you tell me where the Genin Exams are going to be held at?"
"Yeah sure." The man replied. "I'm an examiner for the exams so all you have to do is follow me and I'll lead you there."
"Thanks, by the way, my name is Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto introduced.
'The Kyuubi?' the man thought. The man took a closer glance at Naruto. 'Nah, he looks too innocent to be the Kyuubi.'
"I'm Umino Iruka. You can just call me Iruka since all I am to you is your examiner and not your teacher." Iruka replied.
"Sure." Naruto said with a smile.
A few seconds later, Iruka entered the classroom followed shortly by Naruto.
"Settle down class, today we have a new student here to take the Genin Exams. Naruto, will you introduce yourself?" Iruka asked.
"Hello, my name is Uzumaki Naruto. I like ramen and people who are precious to me." Naruto said.
"Why don't you get acquainted with a few of the students while I get the exams started." Iruka replied.
Naruto saw that Shikamaru and Chouji were nearby and decided to sit by them.
"Hey you two, nice to see you again." Naruto said to Chouji and Shikamaru with a smile.
"Hey." The two of them said.
"Do you play shogi?" Shikamaru asked.
"I play." Naruto answered.
"Want to play a game right now?" Shikamaru asked.
"Yeah sure." Naruto replied.
A minute later, the two started to play a nice game of shogi. Right after the game began, Chouji was called out to take the examination. Chouji returned 10 minutes later carrying a ninja forehead protector.
"Good job, looks like you passed." Naruto said while moving a knight.
"Thanks, it was a little rough, but I managed to pass." Chouji said with a smile.
Naruto and Shikamaru continued to play the game and when Shikamaru placed Naruto into a checkmate, Shikamaru was called up to take the exams.
"How troublesome." Shikamaru replied as he got up.
Shikamaru returned several minutes later carrying his forehead protector.
A couple hours later, it was Naruto's turn to take the exams. Naruto entered the room and saw that there were three instructors inside.
"Alright Naruto, first off, I want you to create a replication." Iruka instructed.
"Um Iruka, I can't make a basic replication. My body seems incapable of making them. If you want, I could show you a Shadow Replication or a Water Clone?" Naruto replied.
"You can do the Shadow Replication then." Iruka said in a shocked voice.
"Shadow Replication Technique." Naruto said out loud.
In almost an instant, five clones came into being. Iruka got up from the Instructor's table and examined the shadow replications.
"Alright Naruto, that's a pass. Now, aim some shuriken at the targets behind you." Iruka said after sitting back down.
Naruto threw the shuriken at the target and each of them was a perfect hit.
"Pass." Iruka said with more shock evident in his voice.
"And finally, use the transformation skill to transform into anything." Iruka said.
"Anything?" Naruto asked.
"Yes." Iruka said, wondering what Naruto was going to do next.
"Okay then, Sexy Technique: The Ninja Centerfold." Naruto said loudly.
Naruto transformed into a naked sexy blond and the three male instructors that were at the table flew back with a nosebleed and were knocked unconscious. A minute later, Iruka was the first to recover.
"Naruto, that has got to be the most dangerous transformation technique in existence. However, since I did say that you could transform into anything, you pass. Congratulations, you are now a ninja of the Konoha Village." Iruka said with a warm smile, handing Naruto a forehead protector.
NEXT CHAPTER: GENIN TEAMS AND BELL TESTS
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