Tired, I shuffled to the academy in the morning. That had been a night. I had hardly found sleep and Naruto I had not seen even once. I wonder where he was.

Wait a minute... Wasn't I still going to be mad at him?

But I was a little worried about the Uzumaki. I hoped that he would come to school today for the exam and I also wished with all my heart that the Uzumaki would pass it. After all, I had practiced a little with him. But that was not the reason I would be happy afterwards. Naruto finally needed a sense of achievement. Maybe then he would also stop a little with the pranks and the others would pay a little more attention to him. That would be nice.

I sighed, opened the classroom door, and ... couldn't believe my eyes. There was Naruto sitting in his seat next to Sasuke. I resisted the urge to rub my eyes. He was right on time. What had gotten into him? Or had Iruka once again talked him into it at dinner yesterday? Apparently, he had. Because Naruto would never do something like that of his own accord ... or would he?

„Hee Tora." I looked up. A familiar face slid into my field of vision.

„I'm sorry about last night. But Sensei Iruka invited me to dinner last night, and I couldn't just..."

„Oh yeah," I interrupted him angrily. „And what about your promise Naruto? You promised me you would. I thought you always keep that promise," I said hurtly, giving my counterpart a hurt look.

„Trouble in paradise?" asked a passing Kiba, but I ignored his mocking words.

„I ... I'm really sorry. But believe me when I tell you that talking to Iruka helped, for real now. Now I know that I can pass the exam." Convinced, he beamed at me. I sighed.

„I hope so from the bottom of my heart Naruto."

Then I turned and trolled to my seat next to Shikamaru. The black-haired boy didn't ask any further questions, which I was more than grateful to him for. I didn't want to talk to anyone, just sat there and hoped that this test would end well for both of us. I didn't notice Naruto's sad look on me.

„Done!"

Relieved, I fell around Shikamarus neck, completely caught off guard. We stood in the front courtyard of the academy, talking about the exam we had survived. I felt as if a huge boulder had fallen from my heart when Sensei Iruka had announced that I had passed. But where was Naruto?

Searchingly, I looked around and my laughter abruptly stopped. A small figure on a swing, at the very edge of the courtyard, caught my attention. Gently, the little contraption bobbed up and down. Naruto's gaze was of a terrible blankness that made me lose all the joy I had felt at the moment. No. This couldn't be true. Why him? And not me? All at once I wished we could change places. Was this my fault? Naruto had been so confident before the test, but after my words... I shook my head and suppressed the anger that was rising at myself.

Straight away, I turned around and marched towards Sensei Iruka, who was standing at the edge of the square along with the third Hokage, looking anxiously in Naruto's direction.

„Sensei Iruka. You must give Naruto a second chance."

Almost immediately, the latter shook his head and looked at me seriously.

„No Tora, I can't. Every single person is treated the same, and Naruto is no exception."

Desperately, I swallowed down the anger. „It's all my fault that he didn't make it. Before the exam, I was mad at him because he promised to take me out to dinner yesterday, sensei." Guiltily, I looked up at him and a hint of realization crept onto my teacher's features.

„Now I understand why he was so hesitant. I'm sorry Tora, I didn't know."

Hopefully, I looked up at him. Would he help now? But my sensei's features hardened again.

„But I can't just give it to him. Not passing is not passing."

Anger came up in me like a hurricane and everything exploded inside me.

„No. You can't be serious," I said, getting louder and louder, so that some students turned to us and began to whisper. But I didn't care much about that. Naruto was my best friend, and it was my fault that he had failed the exam.

„Tora that's enough. I understand your anger, but Sensei Iruka is right. There are no special rights for anyone, not even Naruto."

My shoulders slumped at the Hokage's words. All at once, I felt so powerless and tired. I turned around and froze. Standing next to the swing where Naruto was sitting was Mizuki our second examiner. I looked at him suspiciously. What was he doing there with Naruto?

Silently and secretly, I followed the two. Always in a certain distance and of course invisible. Continuously the Chunin talked to Naruto. Something about how sorry he was and how Naruto really didn't deserve it. Actually, these words should have soothed me, but this gleam in the eyes of the white-haired man, I did not like it at all.

Finally, the two sat down on the balcony of a rooftop and looked up at the increasingly dark sky.

„Believe me Naruto. There is a way to pass your test after all."

Suspiciously, I squinted my eyes as Naruto listened up. „Yes, really?"

Mizuki nodded. There was something fishy going on. For sure. Never, ever would there be a second chance for the Uzumaki. Sensei Iruka had said so himself, and he would never lie. Besides, I didn't like the expression in the Chunins eyes. There was something quite devious and false about him.

"Watch out. There's this one secret scroll ..."

As fast as I could, I ran through Konoha's alleys. I had to find Sensei Iruka, and I had to find him as soon as possible. Because this scroll that Mizuki had told Naruto about was not ordinary at all. It was full of secret or forbidden jutsus. Once I had learned about it through my father. However, he had not told it to me. He had invited a few friends to him at that time and talked about it together. I could still remember all too well how I had stood at the stairs and had listened to their words. Fortunately for me, Dad hadn't caught me doing it, or the whole thing probably wouldn't have ended well for me.

At the moment, I knew of only one ninja whom I could turn to and trust in the case of Naruto. Only I had to find this also and as quickly as possible.

„Sensei Iruka! Something really terrible has happened."

I clenched my fists and with difficulty resisted the urge to cry out loud in anger. Mizukis behaviour infuriated me to the point that I was just barely able to contain myself. The chunin stood at my teacher's front door and blamed everything on Naruto.

„Naruto stole the sacred scroll."

My sensei clearly had disbelief and shock written all over his face. I bit my tongue as the brown-haired man's posture slumped slightly. He believed him. Damn. That wasn't good at all. So how was I going to convince him of that? Silently I watched how Iruka finally followed the other. Earlier I had heard that all chunin and jonin would gather in front of the Hokage's office to discuss the incident. But I had no time for that. I had to find Naruto before it was too late. And I already had a suspicion where I would find the Uzumaki.

I ran as fast as I could across Konoha's rooftops, clearly sensing that a certain person was also aiming for the same goal as me. And this one did not have good intentions. No matter what Mizuki was up to. I don't care that he was a chunin. I would not leave my best friend alone. Because that was what my personal path of ninja was all about. I would stand by those who were dear to me and protect them as long as I could.

Invisible and nearly silent, I crept around the clearing where Naruto sat learning from the scroll. Almost praying that Sensei Iruka would show up here first and expose the lie. Because if he saw me with Naruto, he would still think that I was involved in the whole thing and still supporting him. I'd rather stand guard here and make sure that Mizuki didn't get too close to the two of them.

So engrossed in Naruto, I didn't even notice a shadow enter the clearing.

„That's it my friend," Sensei Iruka said, giving an exhausted laugh. Naruto returned it, to which the other reacted more than confused. Slowly it seemed to dawn on him that something was wrong. A crackling sound in the bushes to my right made me whirl around and something silver-white flashed. Mizuki. Dare I got to hear the unsuspecting Naruto tell the truth to a confused Iruka. But that was fully enough for me. Because now it would be clarified between the two and no one would doubt the truth of this story.

A hiss sounded. Kunais cut through the air, rushed towards my sensei and ... bounced off the invisible shield I had just created around him. Confused, he stared at the kunai lying on the ground, as did Mizuki, who had just appeared to my right.

A bitter smile crept onto Iruka's lips and he silently formed my name with his lips.

„Who's there?" called Mizuki into the darkness of the forest. However, I did not move from the spot. It was Naruto, after all, who drew all the attention back to himself.

„What is the meaning of this Mizuki? Why are you attacking Sensei Iruka?"

Confused, he looked at the chunin, who laughed contemptuously.

„Don't be stupid Naruto. I was just trying to stop him from taking the scroll from you. You must know that he always wanted it for himself. You have to give it to me, and then I'll take it to a safe place," he crooned, looking at the blond with a playfully friendly expression.

„Oh yeah, are you sure about that. But I heard something else," I said angrily, now making myself visible to everyone's eyes. For a brief moment, Mizuki looked at me in surprise, but then laughed derisively.

„The unloved daughter. Interesting skills. But you don't stand a chance against me. And anyway. Why would Naruto believe you? Because after what I'm about to tell him, he won't buy a single word that leaves your lips."

Oh no. I had a bad feeling. He was not going to tell him ... THAT? About the beast that had lived in him since Naruto's birth and that everyone saw only that beast and not the human.

„Believe me I would have told him. And he would have understood me. Because he's my friend. And that's above everything."

Mizuki laughed out. Again, it wasn't a nice laugh. It was just cold and unfeeling. Especially since it reminded me strongly of my father. Boiling hot, it came to me.

„It was you. You used to visit Dad all the time."

The white-haired man grinned.

„Well, well, well. The ear on the wall. But yeah. I really did visit your father a lot. And I must say in many things I really agree with him. But he doesn't just hate you because of your mother's murder. You can ask dear, cowardly Genma, who is still running away from his past. I'm sure he could tell you a lot about it."

My head was pounding, aching. Mixed feelings thundered unrestrainedly at me. Thoughts swirled and in the middle of it all was me. Someone whose wounds from the past had been reopened. Just like the scars on my back. Countless unanswered questions. Confusion, fear, pain, hate. So many feelings dissolved inside me for that moment. Firmly I clawed my fingers into my thighs, trying to fight all these emotions with pain. Tears ran down my cheeks and fell to the ground. I had not cried for a long time. Had sworn never to let anything get to me so much again. But I could not handle this sudden information, was not able to push it away. It was too important.

Naruto's scream broke through my daze and what I found was a disaster. The blond Uzumaki stood completely distraught in the middle of the clearing, next to a severely injured Sensei Iruka with a huge shuriken stuck in his back.

In a single movement, Naruto turned and ran away. Hastily, I wiped away my tears and went after him, because at that moment I could most understand how he felt. His eyes, only briefly I had seen them, but still clear. They had been those of the fox. I had to stop him and that at any price.

Again, the tears came as I ran after my friend. Faster and faster his legs became when he noticed me. But would not be the intangible if I could not catch up with him. With all my might, I threw myself at the Uzumaki and together we crashed through the forks of branches, towards the ground.

I landed hard on my back and sucked in a sharp breath as my injuries began to throb. Something pressed me down. Fiery red eyes looked into mine. Naruto's body had changed greatly. He was walking on all his fours. The eyes, those of the fox and fingernails deformed into long claws. He wasn't looking directly at me. Was in such a rage that he did not recognize my face. The long fingernails flashed in the incoming moonlight and I squinted my eyes.

But the blow did not come. Cautiously, I blinked. Naruto had backed away and looked first at me and then at his hands, startled.

„You're all right," he whispered. "I am a monster. Even my best friend I attack." Tears shimmered in his eyes, just as they had in mine. Gently, I stroked his hands.

„You're not a monster Naruto. If you were one, do you think I would have befriended you then. Yes, other people may see that in you, but it's up to you to show them that's not the case. That beast may be in you, yes, but it's up to you whether you show them the fox or the real you, Naruto Uzumaki from Konohagakure. The boy who has become my best friend, even though I knew about it."

I smiled and continued to look him in the eye.

„And I don't care what anyone else thinks about it. You're my friend and there's nothing anyone can do about that." Naruto sniffled and wiped his nose with his sleeve.

„Oh Tora," he said in a raspy voice. „Thanks."

I smiled and squeezed his hand. „No. I have to thank you, after all, you showed it to me."

„Showed you what?" "The friendship. Before I really got to know you, I could never really understand the value of friendship. But you've changed me. So, it's up to me to be grateful."

Faster than I could look, Naruto had pulled me into a tight hug.

„You don't know how much strength that gives me, believe it." He grinned. „So now let's show this Mizuki where his place is." I laughed and shook my head.

„I'll leave him to you. Now you can prove to him that he shouldn't underestimate you at all. Naruto Uzumaki."