He stood motionless and held his breath. Naruto reached out with his chakra, kunai at the ready when he felt a rush of wind. The Uzumaki threw his arm wide and twisted with the motion, stabbing his attacker in the limb and was rewarded with a harsh elbow to the ribs, the audible cracking giving way as 'Naruto' was reduced to debris.

Another Naruto took his place within a blink of an eye, already on the offensive with taijutsu. Both adversaries, the blonde and his Jonin sensei kept up the pace as the dance began to turn one sided.

Naruto's aim was parried, his fist directed to the side of Yamato.

He greeted unconsciousness, his last thought being 'not again'.


Yamato evened his breathing and waited for the vines around his legs to recede where Naruto trapped him. The kid would only be out of it for a handful of minutes. He had to admit he was impressed. He knew that Orochimaru wouldn't let the child become weak, and probably wanted to train some sort of toy soldier.

He shuddered at the thought of the twisted snake. The memories and the experiments…

His thoughts were interrupted, thankfully, when Kakashi appeared on the training field. Yamato watched as Kakashi looked from the downed Naruto and back to him.

His senpai smiled.

"So, any trouble," Kakashi asked, looking at the kunai still embedded in his arm.

He chuckled, "You could say that. Naruto has been trained, senpai."

Kakashi nodded, shoving his hands in his pocket and smoothing his features of indifference once more, "Thoughts?"

Yamato nodded, already having his thoughts sorted of the boy's skills after their spar. "Yes sir. Tai, Nin, Buki, and Genjutsu are above average, bordering High Chunin. Naruto only utilizes Mokuton Bunshin, as his other Mokuton jutsu seem to be pure elemental control and not specialized as a jutsu. He knows a few Suiton and Doton techniques, mainly defensive measures.

"He is quick to adapt. Naruto broke a layered Genjutsu but failed to notice the last. He proceeded to sense my location and actions, continuing our spar handicapped. His use of multiple Mokuton Bunshin is impeccable, a single man unit consisting of himself that works in tandem with the creations, based on his reserves and experience.

"His stealth is superb and he avoids direct confrontation if possible, sending clones in his place until a moment presents itself to him. I baited him two times, leaving my guard open before he stopped and backed off to hide once more," he coughed before lowering his voice, "I still don't understand how he can muffle such ridiculous chakra levels."

Yamato's senpai hummed with his eyes closed before smiling once again. "Future specialization?"

"From my report, convert ops would rank the highest. Naruto possesses an uncanny affinity for stealth. Once he obtains Chunin status, I recommend inducting him into ANBU or Oinin. He would benefit from brief tours, withholding his decision to stay in either," he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and mild annoyance. "Dragon has already been questioning me also but I haven't budged yet."

He heard his senpai sigh, and looked up to see sad, longing eyes hovering over Naruto.

"Naruto wants to join."

It was said as a statement, not posed as a question. Yamato nodded slowly, "He does." He stood up and walked next to Kakashi, placing his hand on his shoulder, "What happened to him before shapes who he is now, senpai. He won't stop and he will not budge, but we can guide him along the way."

"Thank you, Yamato." Kakashi took a seat next to his pseudo-brother. "I'll wait for him to wake. The Hokage will be expecting your report."


This was useless.

His expectations on being trained were shattered once he knew Kakashi. The man seemed so disinterested in them and was always late. When Sasuke thought about the excuses he would have to suppress his eyes wanting to roll at the sheer disregard.

'Sorry, there's this old lady next door and you see, she lost her dog.'

'No no, I tried to make it here on time but I had to take the long way around.'

'This green guy came out of nowhere and-'

Damn it.

He watched as the villagers passed him by, most with that look, that sort of gaze that spoke of sympathy.

What good was that? It would not fix what was wrong. He quickened his pace. It wouldn't bring back what was torn from him by his br-

No, he was not that. He was a serpent, waiting for the moment to test it's fangs on prey. Blood lust was it's calling and Sasuke would answer in kind. He would not recover what he lost, but he could find solace in revenge, that would make him feel.

He quickened his pace further.

It was the absence. The cold void that ripped it's way to his very core. Trust could never be given, Sasuke learned from Ita-

He stopped, having to calm his breathing. There was his sensei, sitting in a field next to some long haired blonde. He crept behind a tree that outlined the area to sp… observe them. Who was the blonde that his sensei was sitting beside? Did his sensei have another student? That must be why he's always late.

"You can come out, Sasuke."

Withholding the urge to bash his head on the tree, Sasuke shoved his hands inside of his pockets and walked towards the two. He stopped before the blonde, then turned his head towards his sensei, expecting an answer.

The man did that stupid eye thing of his, "Maa, you don't remember? You did go to the Academy with him after all."

Sasuke turned his attention back to the blonde who's hair covered the right side of his face. He was trying to look anywhere but at him. He seemed to find his sandals fascinating, though he spoke softly, "Hey, Sasuke."

There was a kid that he remembers during his first year at the Academy, always loud, blonde with short hair. That was the one kid he had the hardest time fighting. He was dumb as bricks but always made Sasuke exert himself during taijutsu. He remembers missing that thrill once the blonde stopped attending the Academy, he presumed he dropped out.

His name was…

"Naruto?"

The boy nodded, finally looking up to him and Sasuke felt a lump forming in his throat.

One blue eye, the other side of his face covered by his headband with scars around the edges of the black fabric.

Naruto smiled, and it was a small thing compared to the kid back at the Academy. His outfit was dirty and shoveled, the green vest marked brown with dirt that covered his black shirt as well. His black fatigues also sported similar earthy color patterns. His ankle and wrist wraps had splotches of blood on them, Sasuke assumed it was from sparring earlier with his sensei. The Uzumaki's fingerless gloves were scattered with kunai markings and torn.

Over all it looked like he just returned from a mission gone wrong, what kind of training was he getting? Why wasn't his sensei -

"Sasuke, I'm not training Naruto, stop your squirming and loosen your brows."

He closed his eyes and exhaled.

Was he really that easy to read? He needed to school his emotions. 'He' had always been good at deceiving, Sasuke had not. He knew only anger, because what else was there for him besides revenge and blood?

He opened his eyes, looking down to Naruto and squinting, "You're why he's always late."

The Uzumaki rapidly shook his head, "No way! Kashi is always out by about four-ish or so. Nanako-baachan needs his help all the time and sometimes there is this weird guy that shows up and starts yelling at the house and -"

"What the hell", Sasuke wonders, "are those excuses real"?

"There's some construction site nearby now that's been making alot of noise," the blonde replied rapidly and nervously. "I'm still asleep when he leaves to meet up with his team. Then I get up and make breakfast and -"

Sasuke pinches the bridge of his nose, "Ok, I get it."

Naruto clamps shut, looking back down at the ground again and Sasuke feels something weird. He doesn't understand and looking at the Uzumaki makes him feel…

"Want to join us, Sasuke?" his teacher questions with that annoying eye smile of his. "We're not doing anything, really. Just watching the clouds roll by."

He felt his eyes twitch. He could be training them right now still, it was just before sunset, they could still get a few more hours in instead of D-Rank missions.

He shuddered. Baby sitting would never, ever happen again.

So much drool and… excrement.

He scoffed, walking just a few feet away and laid upon the grassy field. He had nothing else to do and it was only the three of them. Sasuke could go home and practice with the training dummies or work on his jutsu's just a little more.

"That one looks like Pakkun showing you his paw," Naruto said, pointing at a cloud. Sasuke watched his sensei nod.

"It does."

Who was Pakkun? To Sasuke, it looked like a sitting cat or… something.

"Who is that," Sasuke asked, "Do you have a pet?"

His teacher laughed, and wasn't that strange?

"Don't let him hear you say that," Kakashi said, winking before he performed a few hand seals.


"Alright, that's it for the day. Good work team!"

Today Kakashi has plans. He worked his team into the ground with some light spars, in his opinion, though his cute little students were a bit roughed up. He had a few ideas for Sakura, who was still helping Sasuke out of the ground.

'Head hunter' was so much fun to use on them.

She had an eidetic memory and an impressive control over her chakra. Didn't Kurenai owe him a favor? Sakura could benefit from Genjutsu training. He'd help by starting her down the trail with more control exercises along with the other two, though they'll probably have to catch up to her.

Ami had been a surprise, another civilian student he passed along with Sakura. Kakashi supposed crazier things have happened, but the girl worked together with her team when they needed to and expressed an interest in Kenjutsu. He would help her out, though she would need to seek out another instructor eventually. He knew he couldn't duel with the likes of Hayate or Yugao with swords only.

Sasuke… well, that was easy.

The silver haired Jonin flashed them a thumbs up, and turned to leave the training field. He planned on going to that one tea shop with the -

"Wait!" his young raven haired duckling shouted. Kakashi swiveled on his heel, facing the young Uchiha.

"Yes, Sasuke?"

He looked hesitant, avoiding direct eye contact and tried to occupy himself by fiddling with his kunai pouch. Why was Sasuke stalling?

He huffed, muttering rather quietly, "Where's Naruto?"

Kakashi smiled, "Why~?"

Sasuke's brow couldn't force itself any lower than it currently reached, he was going to give himself a headache if he continued any further. "- he's doing."

He missed some of that.

"Come again?"

His little raven haired duckling scowled, "I just wanted to see what he's doing."

'Ahh', Kakashi mused.

"Number eighteen."

Sasuke nodded and quickly left, leaving Sakura with an open mouth and Ami shrugging.

"Let's go find Ino," Ami suggested as Kakashi turned back around.

Where was he again? Oh right, those little cake's that-


AN: Natura Hortus - Latin for Nature's Enclosed Garden.

Ami was a purple haired girl that was in the same class as the others in the Academy. She was a bully to Sakura in the anime. They are friends here along with Ino.

Sasuke is a precious, confused and hurt cinnamon bun.

I'm not sure of how much of the side characters I'll cover as I'm not wanting this fic to become an epic.

At this point in time, I'm working on the Chunin exams draft. That's going to be so much fun!