Hi guys, I'm back! There was a lot that stopped me from getting up and making this chapter but I pushed through it and created it anyway. All that being said, enjoy the rest of the story!
Naruto grumbled loudly as the alarm clock on his bedside drawer screeched. His eyes snapped open and he noticed that it was quite early, he didn't realize he had set it for such an early time, but the earlier the better, he supposed.
He hopped out of his bed, disheveled and smelly. Quickly, he brushed his teeth and took a shower. He was low on food of course, so he went to go purchase his daily breakfast. All of a sudden, a strange individual with familiar attire appeared in front oh him.
"Naruto Uzumaki, report to the Hokage's office in ten minutes sharp." He said in a gravely tone, disappearing right after.
Naruto cursed. 'I can't exactly refuse his orders, even if I dislike him a lot. There goes breakfast.' His mood soured instantly, the man had been calling him to his office a lot recently, and he had begun to get sick of it.
He slowly trudged towards the Hokage Tower, its outline already being seen through the smoky air. He thought of every recent reason why he was called to the Hokage's office, but for the life of him, this one escaped him.
Soon enough, he found himself in the tower. He hated this village, there was no doubt about that, but he could commend who ever created this place, because it was humungous.
He was greeted by the receptionist at the front desk. She was a slim woman with tall black hair that was tied into a ponytail. Immediately, her smile turned to a scowl at the sight of the blonde boy.
"What, brat?" She questioned unpleasantly. Naruto's face, expecting this, did not care as much as he would have back then. He only added this to a list of encounters that would fuel his desire to see this bastardly village burn for its vile deeds against him.
"I'm here to see the Hokage." Naruto said, not even trying to mask the obvious dislike in his voice. The woman raised her eyebrows and scoffed. "What would the Hokage want to do with you?" She asked, her mocking tone very much present.
"That would be none of your concern," said a voice behind the desk. Out came Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. "He is here at my request. You will let him through, unless your job is not important to you, of course." He finished unremorsefully.
"O-of c-course, Lord Ho-hokage," The receptionist said fearfully. "You may go right ahead." She said, her tone pleasant but her face anything but.
Naruto nodded, a smirk on his face. The old leader turned and continued walking, gesturing for Naruto to follow him. Follow him, Naruto did.
There was a long, silent walk towards the stairs, where they climbed in an even more awkward manner. No words were exchanged between the two during the long trek towards the man's office.
They took a sharp left after making it to the top of the stairs and were greeted with a large door that had the words 'Hokage's Office' written on the top of the door, it was framed in gold.
Hiruzen twisted the door's knob and took a seat behind his large desk. Naruto followed suite, sitting in the chair in front of his desk.
"Well, we may not be on the best of terms, but I want to say that I have a 'present' of sorts for you." Hiruzen said, his tone jovial.
Naruto was quizzical. "I don't want a present, and no, we're definitely not on good terms." He said, deadpanning.
"Hear me out, Naruto," Hiruzen started. "I know that you do not like me, this village, or anyone in it." He finished.
"You are correct, I do not like this village at all. I am sure you know the reason." Naruto responded, his face riddled with contempt.
"Well, I probably can't change that, but I am offering you a shot at the academy," Hiruzen offered. "I know how much you love and appreciate strength, and this academy is just the place to go to cultivate it." Hiruzen finished, leaving out the parts of friends and bonds. He knew Naruto hated that adamantly.
"Well I'm gonna need a little bit more motivation to attend this 'academy.'" Naruto said, his suspicions raised. Why would the Hokage give him a way to destroy this forsaken village?
"The academy is the only way to become a ninja, a shinobi of this village. I know you do not want to serve this village, and that is fine, but these aspects are of use to you. Those aspects are only taught at the academy." Hiruzen lied through his teeth. The truth is, the academy had been watered down so much since his era that what was taught there was easily accessible to anyone who was willing to open up a book.
"My interest is peaked, but I hope you know it takes more than that to convince me. I will think on it for now." Naruto said, before promptly pushing in his chair and leaving out the door.
'What has the village done to you?' Hiruzen thought tiredly as he rubbed his forehead. 'Whatever is in store for you Naruto, I hope it is only good.'
Naruto left the office with a look of absolute fury. 'That bastard is lying through his teeth. He knows that those curriculums are so accessible even a non-ninja nation can get their hands on it. He should know I have already been learning about chakra with that ball of his.' He said. He was evil, but he would always be truthful in his ways unless they were to people that were his enemies. He definitely did not appreciate being lied to.
Nonetheless, he would humor the old man and attend the academy. If he was to become a shinobi, he had to attend, and no matter how much he loathe to admit it, being a shinobi excited him.
Luckily, he made it home without incident, which was miraculous considering the mood he was in at the time.
"Now, its time to test out this genjutsu." Naruto said, before strutting up to the mirror and reciting, "Flower Eye Technique."
Immediately, he felt the effects of the genjutsu hit him. The mirror reflected his image and he saw his eyes dilating. The images that haunted him a year ago came back to him. The rage, the bloodlust, it all felt identical to the day it actually occurred.
An animalistic roar escaped his mouth that was hung open due to the new addition of canines to his set of teeth. His fangs were barred and his skin were flame-red. From what little he could control, he turned his head to meet the mirror and was shocked at his reflection.
Suddenly, the reflection cracked and the aura around him dissipated as if it were never there. His vision went from red to clear and his body felt the scorching heat make way for the cool breeze in his now-destroyed room.
Naruto, now in full control of his body, looked around. "I need a new mirror and a whole renovation, but at least it worked." He said, his eyes lighting up for the first time in a long time. "Now that we have established I can transform, I need to be in control." He said. While he could care less about his potential teammate or sensei, he would rather not be fighting a murder case.
'I gather that I would need to speak to the Nine-Tails to achieve control, but he doesn't want to see me.' Naruto thought to himself, it wasn't like he was keen on paying the fox a visit anyway.
"What is the exact reason you're here?" Hiruzen asked the man in front of him. "I didn't exactly summon you, either." He said, disgruntled at his disturbance.
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, but I must speak with you." The man, Iruka, said. "I hear that you plan on allowing Naruto to attend the academy, is that right?" He inquired.
"You are correct, Naruto Uzumaki will be attending, whether he likes it or not, whether anyone else likes it or not." Hiruzen affirmed, stone-faced.
"I beg that you reconsider, that boy is a danger to the village, let alone the kids. They are powerless compared to him, Hokage-sama!" Iruka shouted, trying to make his case.
"Do you really think that, Iruka? Do you really believe that a child is that monstrously strong that you cannot take him down in case of emergency?" Hiruzen inquired condescendingly.
"No, Hokage-sama, I just believe that-" Iruka was cut off by Hiruzen's hand.
"I believe I have chosen an inadequate instructor. If you cannot even guard your charges from Naruto, why are you working in the academy?" Hiruzen asked, getting under his skin.
Iruka was getting riled up now. "It was not meant like that! I meant what if there is no one to stop him!" Iruka said, not happy that the man was taking a dig at his shinobi skill.
"Well Naruto is not stupid, he knows what would happen if he touches anyone in the academy outside of a spar." Hiruzen said, a smile dragging on his face. "With that said, I would like you leave my office." He concluded.
"But-" "Now." Hiruzen commanded.
Defeated, Iruka left the office, slamming the door ever so slightly in rage.
In a deep, dark lair, a man with a bandaged face and only one eye showing sat in the darkness. He was dressed in dark robes and dark hair mopped over his head. This was Danzo, the leader of ROOT.
"I need you all to track Naruto Uzumaki, the jinchuuriki, and bring him to me." Danzo spoke ominously. In front of him, three ROOT ANBU kneeled in absolute submission. Nodding their heads, they vanished in search of the blonde-haired boy.
'Naruto Uzumaki, you are my key to the Hokage seat, and I will not let anyone else attain it.' He chuckled.
Naruto was on a stroll, a nighttime stroll. He preferred these times because the village wasn't too busy and there would be no one looking to pick a fight with him. Currently, he was thinking all of the different ways to destroy the village when all of a sudden, three sets of rough hand grabbed him.
Naruto let out a muffled scream that no one heard. The village was virtually vacant at this time and there would be no one to help him even if it was bustling, given his status within the village.
The rough hands were still on him as his eyes visualized a different setting, it seemed that his captors had teleported to a lair of some sorts.
"Naruto Uzumaki..." A gravely voice greeted him. "How very nice to finally meet you."
It is currently 8:42 at the time of this chapter being finished and I'm pretty proud of it. I hope you guys are too. Peace!
