Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto does, so thank him for Naruto.

A/N: If anyone is curious as to why I use both feet/inches and centimeters, it's because I want to give a rough idea of height for those that may use the metric system and those that don't. I plan to do the same with weight, I think that this might help a little without causing anyone to make a random guess if they don't use that form of measurement.

"Speaking"

Thinking

"Inner self/ Demon talking"

Demon thinking

The Burden of Three

5. Academy Years, Part 1

At seven years old the three Uzumaki's were ready to begin going to the academy. Of course they could have started when they were younger since Yugao has said she was already a genin when she was their age, but the young women were hesitant about letting the three out of their sights and the previous year had proved that they had a right to worry. It took a lot of pleading, but the three were able to convince their guardians to let them attend the academy after they made a promise. About a month before they would begin in the academy, the triplet would begin to train. Each person had their own form of training.

Kurenai's training consisted of the three learning to mold chakra with the proper hand seals and studying so that they at least can read, write, and know some of the things that they would be taught in the academy. She planned on working on chakra control exercises after they learn to properly draw their chakra out. Rin's training involved more studying as well as learning about medical herbs, medicine, and information concerning medical jutsu that she would teach them after they learn better control. The demons may have healed the children faster than normal, but it was good for them to know medical things in case they were to hurt to heal on their own or there was an injured ally. Yugao had decided to start teaching them some taijutsu, also she decided to teach them some of the basic styles of armed combat (with wooden and blunt weapons of course). Finally, Anko would make them exercise with some weights. Over the month they were adjusting to the weights, which were started at five pound (2.25 kg) a limb and a vest weighing fifteen pounds (6.8 kg), but Anko warned them that she would be adding about five pounds a limb and ten pounds to the vest either every six months or whenever they seem to have completely adjusted to the weight. The weights were special ones because of their many functions and appearance. The weights looked like black leather bracers that could go on the wrists and ankles, while the vest looked like a plain black vest. One of the great things about the bracers was that they could automatically adjust to the proper size of the person that wears them. Another great thing was that you could store chakra inside them for later use. The last thing was the weight seal, you could add weight just by preforming two hand seals and channeling chakra directly into the seal until the desired weight was reached. Also it had a special seal on them that only allowed certain people the ability to reduce or increase the weight, and those people were only the four kunoichi, the triplets, Asuka, and the Sandaime Hokage. That may have been to many people to have access to the weight changing ability, but there may have been a time that the three were unconscious and unable to reduce the weight for someone the carry them to safety. Other than that they worked as added protection by all having chain-mesh woven into each item.

When the day finally came, Kurenai had decided to take the three to the academy, but she had been asked by the Hokage to escort the several other children that were going for their first time. She began to walk to the Uchiha district with the triplets behind her. All three were still wearing their weights as Anko ordered, but other clothes. Naurto was wearing green shorts and a white shirt with a orange swirl on it, Hariken was wearing a black shorts and a blue shirt with a black swirl like his brother's, and Tatsuma wanting to be like her brothers was wearing black shorts and a smaller white shirt with a black swirl. The vests were left open over their shirt and the bracers went with the vests well enough that they were not that noticeable.

As they walked Kurenai missed the glares that was being sent to the children behind her, but the three the glares were directed at didn't miss them. The triplets began to have one of their silent conversations. You would think that they would realize that we are not the big, scary, and furry ones by now, but it seems that they are as narrow minded as ever brothers? The young blond girl thought to her brothers. That's right, it seems that the incident the previous year hand pushed them further than anyone knew.

When Inoichi had told the Hokage that the three had the most complex minds that he had ever seen, he didn't realize because of the trauma that they went through the three young blonds were able to break the mental barrier that blocked their mental bond. The "big, scary, and furry ones" comment can only mean three creatures, yes their treatment brought them so close to death that the demons revealed themselves to the children while healing them.

Well what do you expect sis. I don't know what they think we are, but when you think about it who would you rather harm and hate, big powerful demons that can kill you in an instant or weak little kids that can't even protect themselves? Hariken had thought back.

Naruto, not being one to left out, joined the conversation. Well they should know that we're not them since if we were them we would either destroy the city or be making plans to do so. Not to mention we wouldn't be planning to become ninja to protect them or gain their acceptance. That's why they will have no choice but to do just that when I become Hokage while you two become my assistants and most trusted ninja.

Hariken mentally laughed at what his brother said. Knowing what they think of us, they would sooner believe that it is a means to "regain our former strength" than to protect them and gain respect or acceptance. He paused his thoughts for a second before continuing. It is believed to be impossibly hard for any of us to gain either from them by the looks that we receive, but you know what I say "If life was easy, then it wouldn't be fun."

The the other two laughed in their minds as they agreed with their younger brother's words. Though the three had to deal with assassination attempts, the glares and hatred of their village, and feel more pain than even some ninja would ever had to feel, these three were happy children. It was true that they wish that they had known their parents or who they were, they would sometimes feel depressed about never knowing their whole family, and they would send their own glares back at the village from time to time, but they had each other and their guardians. To them, the four Kunoichi were like older sisters, Asuka was like a grandmother, and the Hokage was like a grandfather, but they didn't have a mother or father. They were happy that they at least had six people that acknowledged them, but they were planning on working hard to make the village would as well one day.

Well that's true Hariken, but even you have to admit that it would be nice if it was a little easier. Like maybe they stop trying to kill us. Well I can't wait until we're strong enough to defeat them ourselves and stop acting like we don't know what's going on. I hate hiding that we are smarter and better than we let on to the others. Tetsuma thought to the others.

Well sis, would you believe that students that kids not even a first year academy student is able to mold chakra properly with some basic control or have be as intelligent as those twice their age? Naruto thought back to her.

Umm...what about Rin-nee-chan's(hope this is right) friend Kakashi and Yugao-nee-chan? I thought that both of them were genin when they were younger than us. Hariken decided to point out something they all were told once.

Naruto mentally sighed, Okay, think of it this way. Which would concern you more if you hated a demon host, a smart and strong one or an apparently weak and possibly foolish one?

Is that why you suggested that we don't show our true skills and intelligence, as well as hide the fact that we doubled our weights? The blond girl asked her older brother

"Well I must say that was surprisingly smart of the pup to suggest, if I didn't know any better I'd think that Kyuubi was giving him advice." A feminine voice said to the triplet's minds.

Rukubi, I thought that we had a deal. You and the others don't interrupt our conversations and we don't bother yours when you three use our link. The young girl said to the wolf in her body, with an emphasis on the word "our" to remind the demon.

It seems that as another side effect to trying to help their host, the demons were able to communicate with their hosts as easily as the blonds communicate to each other. Also, the demons were able to talk to each other or all of the children because of their hosts' unique bond, the only draw back was that the demons could hear everything that the children think to each other and the children could do the same, but it was to an extent. Because they were all separate entities, the demons could not see shielded thoughts and the demon's minds were completely unaccessible to the three future ninja and that also meant that they could not read their siblings shielded thoughts. Also the children could block the demons' connection to their conversations if they decided to and since it was their bond, the demons could not block the children from their conversations.

"I was bored and I was wondering wondering what you were talking about. Anyway if you haven't noticed, you three came to a stop and the copy-cat fools are glaring at you." The wolf then waited for the response to her comment.

"What was that you poor excuse for a canine! How dare you relate those stuck-up bastards to felines." A deep male voice nearly growled to the others.

"You sure you want to call them that Shichibi? After all I seem to recall that both of you and Kyuubi were the same way several years ago, though being sealed had calmed you two down some." The wolf said in an almost playful tone.

"You were the same as we were you crazy wolf, you were just try to forget that." Two deep voices said in unison. It seemed that Kyuubi jumped into the conversation when he heard his name called.

The blond children just sighed and ignored the demons' argument. They were so foolish at times that the three had a hard time believing that they were the some of the most feared and powerful demons that world had ever seen. Anyway, Rukubi was right that they had stopped at the main compound in the Uchiha district and that they were being glared at. Apparently there were several well liked and powerful members of their clan that were killed in the attack, and from time to time some of the less obedient Uchiha would capture the children and used them for target practice with either their fire jutsu and genjutsu or shuriken and kunai. This of course would be against the law if the children would know who it was that did it because the ones that usually abducted them would not only use genjutsu to hurt them mentally, but also hide their identity. The children were getting close since they realized that it was two young Uchiha with ANBU and there were currently only four young enough to fit the description and old enough to know about the demons' inside them. This is to say that most of the older Uchiha aren't that well liked by the triplets or their guardians, despite Rin's former teammate and Yugao's current teammate.

As Kurenai knocked on the door, a pretty woman with long black hair and the black eyes of an Uchiha opened the door. "Hello Makoto-san, I'm here to escort Sasuke and Hikari to the academy as you requested." Kurenai said to the older lady.

"Oh Kurenai-san, I was wondering if the Hokage was going to be able to fulfill my request. It seems that all the others are to busy to attend to the youngest of our clan and I was just assigned a mission that I have to leave for in twenty minutes." The Uchiha said as she began to go retrieve children that were mentioned.

She came back with a young boy wearing a black shirt with the Uchiha fan on the back and black shorts being followed by a girl maybe a few months younger wearing a white shirt with the same fan on the back and and blue shorts, both appeared to be the same age as the blonds.

"Well here they are, my son Sasuke and my niece Hikari. Hopefully they won't give you as much trouble as I heard those three tend to give you." Makoto said to the younger woman.

Kurenai just laughed at that. "Trust me, there is nothing like dealing with three hyperactive blonds." She then looked at the blonds she mentioned and saw them pouting, which was so cute that it not only made her laugh more, but got a giggle out of Makoto and Hikari. Sasuke just ignored them.

Not long after that the six began their walk to the Hyuga mansion(or is it a compound?). As they walk each got the same looks as usual. Kurenai received certain looks from the men, the Uchiha got looks of respect, and the Uzumaki got looks of hate. When they arrived at the mansion there were two Hyuga guards at the gate. It was widely known that most Hyuga didn't really care for the Uchiha nor the "demon brats", so it was no surprise that Kurenai was the only one allowed to enter the gate and go to the front door. When the door opened, the head of the Hyuga Clan was standing there with a boy and a girl behind him.

"This is my daughter Hinata, she is to going to become a ninja and bring honor to the clan. The boy is my nephew Neji, he is already attending the academy and is to be an additional escort for Hinata to and from the academy. I am a busy man and will take my leave now. Hinata don't make me regret my decision of having you become a ninja." Hiashi said to the young girl as he walked inside his home. Hinata just lowered her head as she walked with Neji and Kurenai back to the others.

Once they were some distance away Naruto spoke up. "You know what, I don't like that man. He doesn't seem fun at all. So who was the one that shoved a stick up h..." Naruto never finished that statement as Neji slammed him against the wall.

"How dare you insult the leader of the Hyuga clan like that, you realized that there have been those that were killed for doing such things. He deserves respect from a commoner like you. I hope you don't expect me to let that comment go without some form of disciplinary action." Neji said with a cold glare directed to the oldest of the blond. This stopped everyone, who turned to look at what was happening.

Naruto resisted the urge to laugh as he looked unimpressed by the older boy. "Hmm...well I can see that it must be a family thing with the males since Hinata seems different. As for me respecting him..." Naruto sent a glare of his own at the boy holding him against the wall. "There is a small number of people I respect and that man has to do something other than inheriting a position." The blond then slipped out of the shocked boy's grip and joined his sibling as they began to walk to the academy.

Well when they got there, they received exactly what they expected once Kurenai left. Hinata and Hikari were ignored as their cousins were being followed by fan girls, and the blonds received glares from the children that were told to hate the three by their parents and the teachers that hated the demons. When class started, again everything went as expected for the blonds. They were given the hardest questions, had none of their own questions answered, were generally reprimanded for their lack of knowledge or disturbing the class with their "pointless questions", and had already had half of the bullies picking on them. They were at least going to receive an interesting surprise when they arrived home.

Once the three got home they were greeted with one of the rare visits from the Hokage as well as their guardians. "Don't tell me that Neji had you came all the way here to deal with my insult to his clan leader, did he?"

The Sandaime and Kurenai both laughed at Naruto's comment while the others were a little confused. "No Naruto, I am here for another reason that I believe will make you three very happy, but at the same time very sad." The elderly man said. "You see I feel that I should let you three know about your parents and live in their home, which is yours since they left it to you three." The smiles on the blonds' faces was the biggest the six adults have ever seen.

Well they took that rather well, but I doubt that they will be very excited about the next part. If they are as smart as I think they are then maybe they will understand more than I give them credit for.

That's it for this chapter.

This one took a while because of the oc Hariken. My original plan is to have him with another oc,but as I determined his personality I realized that he would be compatible with Tenten and made me wonder if it should be Hari/Ten since I kinda like the Neji/Ten pairings a little. Well I thought of an idea that should fit in nicely for the story, you will see what I mean later. Besides if he went with Tenten, then there would be more ideas that I'd have to drop than I can think to add at them moment.

With the weights thing, I wanted a plausible explanation for them to have extremely heavy weights instead of just dropping them on them at once and adjust to them over night. In fact I'm still amazed that Lee adjusted to his weights (does anyone know how much they weigh?) in just about a year (I believe he didn't were weights before graduation and being that they were the previous year's rookies, that meant that he adjusted to those weights in less than a year and learned his )

The chain-mesh, I think that's a thinner and lighter version of chain-mail armor knights use to wear. I figured that it would be good to use to protect them to an extent and could be woven into their clothes easily. The leather arm and leg bracers with the chain-mesh would give more flexibility then the solid metal ones or shin-guards, while giving the appearance of regular bracers with antiquate protectiom.

I was planning on reducing my focus on the older ninja soon, starting with Asuka since her primary role was to take care of the three as babies, though I'm sure she'll show up later.