A/N: Hello everybody, welcome to my second fic "One Year Early". This was an idea that just randomly entered my head when I was discussing some stuff about "A Simple Glance" with my buddy from across the Atlantic, GBAboy313, who also has agreed to do beta editing for this fic, alongside Guardian and also for the other Naruto fics, I would be bringing out in the future. The idea is that one certain white haired chunin at the ninja academy got impatient, too impatient, regarding plans concerning a certain blonde student and that changed...well...everything. Before getting onto the story, I'd like to sincerely express my gratitude for the love and support my first fic "Guardian of the tailed beasts" has received from you. I hope that this fic also receives the same love, support and blessings from you and that you all have a good read.

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto, and except for any OCs, introduced in this fic (the possibility of which is next to zero), the characters all belong to Kishimoto-sensei.

Now onto the sotry...

ONE YEAR EARLY CHAPTER 1: THE WINDS OF FATE CHANGE DIRECTIONS

Sometimes, a small change can lead up to something big. Even small changes in someone's thought process can alter the plans of destiny and the winds of fate. One such small change turned out to be the impatience of one particular academy instructor in Konoha's Shinobi academy, one instructor who loathed a particular blonde-haired student in his class to no end, almost as much or perhaps more than he would hate the contents of a gutter. This particular Chunin, in his incessant hate for the 11 years old kid and his simultaneous desire to get richer and more powerful, had devised a plan, a plan to have the forbidden jutsu scroll stolen from the Hokage's office by the same student he loathed, no less. What made things even easier for him was the fact that the blond was despised by most of the adult population of the village, avoided and scorned by most of the kids his age. (Though there was one particular midnight blue haired, lavender eyed girl who actually loved him, cared for him, admired him perhaps as much as she loved her younger sister {Or maybe even more!} but she was just too shy to come clean with her feelings.) So it was relatively easy for the Chunin instructor to have the blond framed for the stealing, nobody would suspect him, he could kill the kid and leave a charred and destroyed scroll by his body, this would leave no doubts in anyone investigating the robbery of the scroll about the kid being the culprit. And he can simply vanish into the lands beyond the Final Valley, where one particular paedophile shinobi, obsessed with snakes and immortality would handsomely reward him for the scroll.

Ever since Mizuki had thought up the plan, he couldn't wait to implement it. The temptation of power and wealth were just too strong. He had decided that he would approach his pawn when the latter failed the Genin exam for the third time, inevitably losing the chance to be enrolled into the Shinobi program. That would be the opportune moment, the demon brat would be mentally vulnerable. (Insert an evil grin from Mizuki here). The kid had already failed the exam once. He would be appearing for it again tomorrow (As if he could pass! The brat can't get the clone-jutsu right, even in his dreams!), then he would appear again, a year later. That would be the opportune moment. But the traitorous Chunin just couldn't wait any longer. His patience was running thin. Suddenly an idea hit him. 'What if I convince him to steal the scroll tomorrow itself? The kid is dumb, he would definitely fall for it. Ah, tomorrow would be the best time to do it. Why should I wait one more year, putting up with that righteous idiot Iruka and that annoying brat?' Mizuki chuckled as he made his decision. The white haired Chunin could never know that he had just altered the directions of the winds of fate forever. (E/N: You evil genius…I don't see any way that this could possibly go wrong for you…)

*Next day, Konohagakure Shinobi Academy*

"Naruto, make a clone." The instructor with a horizontal scar across his nose ordered. Inwardly hoping sincerely that this time his favourite student would get it right, though the chances of that happening were really low; really, really low.

Naruto fidgeted inwardly. This was the jutsu, he could never get right. He glanced around the class. The students before him were those one year ahead of him in the academy. None of them were familiar to him. One of the reasons, Naruto wanted to pass the Genin exam ahead of his own classmates was that most of them fawned over one particular Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto didn't want to be in a team with Sasuke. Sure, he wouldn't mind being in a team with his crush, Sakura Haruno. But deep down, he knew that he would never be able to enjoy her company as well, let alone win her affection. That's why when Iruka-sensei asked them to write who they wanted to spend their last day with, Naruto couldn't write anyone's name. He was sure that no one had written his as well. He just hoped that may be the students of the preceding year, who didn't know him would accept him somehow. However, that glimmer of hope seemed to fade away. Inwardly sighing at his misfortune, Naruto performed the required hand-signs for the clone jutsu.

"Clone-Jutsu!" He yelled and a puff of smoke later, a very pale and sickly joke version of Naruto, swinging sideways appeared, immediately fell to the ground and puffed away. Most of the class erupted into laughter.

Iruka sighed.

"Sorry Naruto, you can't pass. Try again next year and try harder." He commented as he put a cross with red marker on the paper having the blonde's details.

Naruto slumped; the class was still laughing at him.

"Iruka, he was able to perform the substitution and transformation well. Can't you cut him some slack?" Mizuki suggested as he gave Naruto a sympathetic look. (Acting of course.) "He just failed in one jutsu. I think he can be passed."

"No Mizuki." Iruka stated "You know the rules, I can't pass anyone who fails to do all the three academy jutsus. I can't show any favouritism. Naruto has failed the test." Iruka left no room to argue. Naruto then just ran out of the room. He knew, there was no one to console him.

At the same time, the class for Naruto's classmates was suspended. Naruto, sitting on the swing by the academy watched his friends leave. Shikamaru left with Choji who was sharing a packet of chips with him. Sasuke left the class, followed by most of the girls of the class, still asking him out for a snack, the most loudmouthed among the girls were Sakura and Ino.

'Why is he so cool? Why is he always at the top of the class? Why can't I be like him? Why doesn't anyone want to at least be friends with me? Why can't I have a girlfriend? Why can't I be accepted? Will they accept me even if I become Hokage? And how can I become Hokage, if I can't get one damned clone right? Why did luck be cruel with me? Why can't I get that one damned jutsu right?' Naruto sat up and slammed his fist on the nearby tree.

"Naruto, don't lose heart." He heard a voice say and a hand tapped his shoulder. He turned back to see Mizuki, smiling at him with a sympathetic look.

"Hey Mizuki-sensei." Naruto half-heartedly greeted. "I may not come to class tomorrow, is that okay?"

"You will not need to come to class after today Naruto." Mizuki replied as he inwardly grinned and began putting his plan in place. "For you see, there is a special type of test, for students like you, a second chance to graduate you can say."

Naruto's eyes brightened with hope. All may not have been lost after all, there was still a chance.

"A-Another test sensei?" Naruto replied beaming. "What do I have to do? Tell me, I will get it done in no time?"

"Hold your horses." Mizuki replied, inwardly very satisfied at the smooth progress of his plan. "This is a special test, in which you have to perform a task, reminiscent of a real-life shinobi mission. You need to infiltrate the Hokage's office and steal the scroll which has a label 'Forbidden' written on it. If you can take the scroll and bring it to me, in the forest, just outside the village, you will pass."

Naruto listened it all in excitement but he didn't want to do something that could potentially upset Hokage-jiji.

"But sensei, won't Hokage-jiji get mad at me if I steal the scroll from his office and I don't want to get a scolding from Iruka-sensei either." Naruto asked with a little bit of confusion on his face.

Mizuki scowled inwardly, the blond was very simple at heart and his simplicity could ruin everything.

"Don't you get it, it's a test, Hokage-sama designed it himself and Iruka is aware of it as well. I am sure they will be proud of you if you pass the test with flying colours." Mizuki replied, trying to appear as reassuring as possible. "Now get moving. All the best."

"You got it sensei, just you watch, I will get the scroll to you in no time." Naruto replied with a confident smile and ran off. Looking at his receding figure, Mizuki let out a sadistic grin for a moment and then left in the opposite direction.

What Mizuki and Naruto hadn't noticed was that a particular blue-haired and lavender eyed girl, who held a lot of affection towards Naruto had heard everything they discussed.

*15 minutes earlier*

When Hinata exited the academy building, she saw her cousin Neji being congratulated by a girl with two buns in her hair.

'Of course, Neji nii-san passed, he's the clan prodigy after all. Naruto-kun also appeared for the exam today. I wonder how he did, I hope he passed as well.' Thinking about Naruto brought a slight blush on her cheeks.

'I just hope, someday he notices me. Maybe I have to approach him, I have to make myself known to him, but what if he also thinks that I am worthless. Sakura-san is much cooler than me, she's confident, intelligent, and that's why Naruto-kun likes her, why can't I be anything like her? When would he notice me? When would I get at least one of my wishes granted?' Hinata thought as a lone tear escaped from her right eye, she wiped it out and then suddenly spotted Naruto sitting on the swing before the academy, looking down. All her hopes of Naruto having passed the exam were dashed. She walked towards him, debating inwardly about how she should approach him and console him but finally, like usual she couldn't bring herself to talk to him. She walked around and went to the back of the tree, the opposite side of where Naruto was seated and settled for observing him.

It was then that Hinata heard Mizuki approach her beloved and learned about the alleged second test. Hinata was smart, she hadn't heard of any kind of tests like that but still, this was their sensei, perhaps they had designed the test especially for Naruto, considering his stealth skills, his pranks, pulled in broad daylight were the testament to it. But the former heiress of the Hyuuga clan smelled something fishy. So, she decided to observe the so-called test from a distance. Her skills in stealth were also quite formidable, second only to Naruto himself, considering the number of times she had followed and watched *ahem stalked ahem* him, without being noticed even once.

Unbeknownst to her, this decision of hers would forever alter her fortunes and looking back, she would consider the day or at least the end of it, as one of the most significant and defining moments of her life.

*3 hours later, in the Forest outside Konoha*

Naruto sat down near the tree as he let out heavy breaths. He put the big scroll by his side and looked around.

"This was the clearing Mizuki-sensei told me about. Take that sensei, I made it one hour early, now nobody can stop me from becoming a genin and then Hokage. Dattebayo!" Naruto cheered himself. He still didn't notice his shy admirer (*ahem stalker ahem*), who had carefully hidden herself behind a thick bush. The task wasn't easy. Naruto was caught by the Hokage just as he had taken the scroll but the perverted old man was knocked out with a huge nosebleed when the blond pulled off his 'Sexy Jutsu' on him. 'I hope I wouldn't lose any points for knocking Jiji out like that.' Naruto thought. (I wouldn't worry too much, the old perv probably enjoyed it.)He then took a glance at the scroll beside him.

"What is so forbidden about this forbidden scroll anyway? Sensei didn't say anything about looking through the scroll, it won't do any harm to take a look, and maybe I can learn some cool jutsu from it." Naruto mumbled to himself. He then proceeded to open the scroll and one particular jutsu drew his attention. After carefully studying the required single hand-sign, he proceeded to attempt the jutsu again and again, until he got it right.

An hour later a panting and extremely worried Iruka finally stumbled upon the clearing and found Naruto with his back against the tree, the blond looked a bit exhausted, he also found the forbidden scroll, lying beside him.

"NARUTO!" The chunin yelled getting his attention. Seeing his teacher, Naruto grinned.

"See Iruka-sensei, I retrieved the scroll from Jiji's office and even managed to learn a jutsu from it. I managed to do it one hour earlier than the assigned time. This means I passed, didn't I?" The blond asked in excitement. (You poor idiot)

Iruka was shocked. 'Passed, he is talking as if it was a test, someone must have duped him into stealing the scroll saying it was a test, I knew Naruto wouldn't willingly do something as terrible as betraying the village.'

"Passed? What are you talking about Naruto?" Iruka asked with a serious voice.

Hinata who was listening to the conversation from behind the bush, finally understood how Mizuki had played with her beloved's emotions. For the first time in her life, Hinata wanted to truly beat up somebody.

"Stop the act sensei, I know you know about the second test, Mizuki-sensei told me all about the second test to become genin. He- he told me that if I could steal the scroll from Jiji, I can become a genin." Naruto asked as nervousness began taking over him and a part of his mind began to understand that all this could be a trap.

"To think that you would be able to find him before me, even though I was the one who told him to be here in the first place, some tracker you are Iruka." Mizuki said from a tree branch, barely hiding his contempt and letting his sadistic persona loose fully. (Also displaying the fact that he's a lazy and oblivious idiot)

"Mizuki, what's the meaning of this?" Iruka asked angrily.

"Naruto give me the scroll; I don't have much time." The traitorous chunin ordered. But Naruto took a step back.

"Don't listen to him Naruto, there is no test like that, he used you to get the scroll. Get away from here, I will stop him." Iruka ordered and his favourite student began stepping back.

"Don't act so protective over him Iruka, you know what he is. You know I would be doing the village a favour by killing him." Mizuki taunted. Naruto began shivering, why would his death be a favour to the village, sure nobody liked him there, but he never thought that his mere existence was despised that much.

"I know what Naruto is, but you have committed betrayal against the village and even exploited an innocent academy student into committing a crime. Surrender now, or I will be forced deal with you." The scarred instructor warned. Mizuki only began laughing maniacally.

"That brat is anything but innocent, I know you know that as well, he is the thing that killed your parents after all." The Fuma-shuriken holding chunin taunted again.

"W-What are you t-talking about?" Naruto asked with a gulp.

"Oh, don't act so ignorant you filthy demon." Mizuki replied with disdain.

"Mizuki, stop it, or I will attack you." Iruka warned but his words fell on deaf ears.

"If you really want to know then listen. 11 years ago the Kyuubi-no-Kitsune attacked the village, killing many people, including your beloved sensei's parents. The 4th Hokage fought the beast. They say that he killed the Kyuubi but that's a lie. The 4th Hokage didn't kill the beast."

"Mizuki don't you dare! You are breaking the Sandaime's law!" Iruka warned and even threw a kunai at his former friend, Mizuki tossed blocked with a kunai of his own.

"He sealed the Kyuubi into a boy born on that day." Naruto's eyes widened at the revelation, so did Hinata's, who also was listening to the conversation. It all began to make sense, the hateful glares, the subtle whispers of 'demon fox' almost whenever Naruto walked across somebody.

"Yes, that's right, he sealed the fox into you. You are the Kyuubi. You are the demon that killed hundreds of the village that night. You killed Iruka's parents! You should have been killed that very day. But don't worry, I will fulfil the 4th's incomplete task right now. DIE DEMON!" Mizuki yelled before untying his Fuma-Shuriken and throwing it at Naruto. (And you proved how much of an ignorant idiot you are. Try that shit with Killer Bee or Gaara or Yugito or Han or Roshi or Yagura or Fu or Utakata, Mizuki, I dare you, I DOUBLE DARE YOU!)

The blond however didn't even attempt to move, he had finally understood why he was hated so much, why nobody wanted to do anything with him, why many subtly called him 'demon brat'. It made sense that he should just die, at least the people will be happy for that. But a certain girl had already decided that she would protect him at all costs, even her own life if it came to that. At that moment, Hinata's admiration for Naruto grew many fold as did her love for him. She reacted even more quickly than Iruka could, pushed Naruto out of the path of the shuriken, pushed him into the ground and the rolled down with him, before getting up and standing over him with her arms spread horizontally as she gave her former teacher a very defiant look, totally uncharacteristic for her. (If you listen close, you can hear the sound of Mizuki unknowingly shitting his pants from a Byakugan death glare.)

"Oh, look who's here. The little Hyuuga princess standing up for the demon. Love is blind indeed." Mizuki said with a chuckle. Iruka and Naruto both were staring wide eyed at the Hyuuga, standing there with a resolve completely unheard of from her.

"How dare you! If there is any demon here that's you, Mizuki." Hinata stated not even bothering to attach any honorific. "Naruto-kun is the finest person I've ever met. He stands up for those who he doesn't even know when he sees them in trouble. All this time, he has only sought help people out. He has been mocked, looked down upon, scorned, hated, avoided, discarded like a trash by almost everyone but he still strives to become the Hokage and serve the very people that have caused him so much pain. The Kyuubi sealed into him, makes him even more special for he is the one that is holding the beast from unleashing havoc in the village and killing us all, he has been protecting us all this time, without getting appreciated for it even once! If doing all that makes him a demon, then I would gladly be called a demon as well." She declared with utter sincerity and without even a single stutter for once.

"H-Hinata?" This was the only thing Naruto could let out as he was just too shocked to even form any other words.

Iruka looked at the shy girl with a proud smile as he also took a stance before Naruto.

"She's right Mizuki. I do hate the monster fox but not Naruto. Naruto is my student whom I consider very precious to me. He is not the Kyuubi-no-Yoko, he is Naruto Uzumaki of Konohagakure." The teacher stated.

Tears rolled down Naruto's cheeks as he processed all that was being said there.

"All right, if you two want die defending the demon then so be it." Mizuki stated with a bit of irritation as he took another Fuma shuriken and launched it, his target being set at Naruto.

This time, it was Iruka who acted, taking the projectile on his back.

"Naruto, Hinata, take the scroll and get away from here, I will hold him." He ordered in distress.

"NO!" Naruto stated with conviction. "I am not leaving you alone here."

"Such a considerate brat you are huh!" Mizuki stated as he charged at the blond, with a kunai in hand. Only to be engaged by Hinata, who gracefully defended Naruto with Jyuuken, Byakugan blazing. Despite being a Chunin, Mizuki was still vulnerable to the dreaded taijutsu style of the Hyuugas. A number of tenketsu on his shoulder ended up getting closed.

Hinata kept up dodging violent swings of Kunai from the enraged traitorous chunin and then suddenly she took a hit as she began tiring out.

"Aaah!" the Hyuuga screamed in pain when Mizuki slashed her across the shoulder. The slash was deep and she started bleeding.

"HINATA! NOOO!" Naruto screamed in terror.

"That's what she will get for choosing to stand by you, Demon!" Mizuki taunted with a devilish smirk. "I will enjoy killing this little girlfriend of yours right before you." He added but before he could manage follow up his words with action, Iruka engaged him in taijutsu bout.

"I won't let you hurt my precious students, traitor!" The teacher warned. But the big wound on his back, courtesy of the fuma-shuriken from Mizuki soon began taking its toll.

As he defended himself from Iruka's punches, Mizuki realized that the teacher wasn't able to cover his chest perfectly and was taking time switching from offensive to defensive.

"You're leaving an opening Iruka!" The traitorous Chunin stated before viciously kicking his former colleague on the chest.

"IRUKA-SENSEI!" Naruto shouted, his glance then shifted to Hinata, who still stood before him protectively. She was holding the wound on her shoulder and was panting hard; she wouldn't last too long either.

'They are fighting for me and what the hell am I doing watching them get hurt?"

As anger began building up inside Naruto, barely visible reddish-orange chakra began flowing around him.

"MIZUKI, IF YOU HURT MY PRECIOUS PEOPLE, I WILL DESTROY YOU!" Naruto growled.

"Oh, really. You are the dead-last of the class, what do you think you can do against a Chunin."

"THIS!" Naruto yelled, bringing his hands into the oh-so well-known cross hand-sign. "Multi Shadow-Clone Jutsu!" With a huge puff of smoke, nearly five hundred Narutos appeared, covering the whole clearing. All the clones cracked their knuckles.

Iruka and Hinata's eyes widened at the sight. 'To think that he would manage to learn a Jonin level ninjutsu in an hour, you are really something else Naruto.' The scarred Chunin thought with pride.

"Prepare yourself Mizuki!" All the clones warned simultaneously before charging at him en-masse. Although Mizuki was decently skilled in taijutsu, he had no way of defending himself from such a huge quantity of shadow-clones.

After five minutes, all the clones disappeared, leaving a thoroughly beaten up Mizuki with several teeth missing and swelling on almost every part of the face. Naruto had even managed to break the traitors' arms which had dared to hurt Hinata and Iruka-sensei. (You know what they say Mizuki, Karma's a bitch.)

Naruto dropped to his knees, panting heavily.

"Naruto-kun are you okay?" Hinata asked in concern as she raced to his side. The blond looked at her wounded shoulder

"Hinata, why did you…" darkness took over him before he could complete the sentence and he dropped down unconscious. Mental exhaustion finally taking its toll.

"Naruto-kun…" Hinata also collapsed, due to blood loss and exhaustion.

Suddenly the Hokage, a few ANBU, and Hiashi Hyuuga appeared at the clearing via shunshin.

"Hokage-sama!"

"Iruka, I know what happened here. Take the two kids to safety." Hiruzen ordered and also set an ANBU to accompany the chunin. Hiashi took a glance at his elder daughter and clenched his fists controlling himself to keep from showing any emotions. (It's okay to show concern for your kid)

A/N: And done, so this was the first chapter. I hope it was good and satisfying. Special thanks to GBAboy313 for agreeing to do beta for this fic and thank you all for sparing your time to take a look at this new story from me. Now, since I have entered my final year of the master's degree in the university, so I'd be a bit busy this academic year, so I am afraid the updates would be irregular. And for now guardian would be my first priority, which means updates of that fic would be more frequent than this one, but I'll try to update this one as frequently as possible.