Author's Notes

Yo! StarDragon here! It's about time that the kits move out of their home village eh? Time for them to graduate! That's right, the last chapter of part one is done and now we will be moving on to the second part of the Ninja 101 arc. Don't fret though people, this is not the last time we will see the Kitsune village! Anyways, thank you all for the support as usual and that is all I have to say in these notes! Read on people!

Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by Kishimoto, while Nox is owned by Westwood and EA. What a bummer.

Arc One: Ninja 101

Chapter Four – Graduation

-Ninja School, Class 105A, Morning-

The year has gone by faster than the eye could see, and by that time, all the kits have grown exponentially stronger together. This is the last possible time that friends will see each other face to face, because once they choose to move or stay; they won't be able to contact them any longer since the great five nations are technically still enemies of each other and contacting someone from an enemy village would classify as betrayal. This is where they will make a giant leap into the career they would take. Everyone seemed nervous, because the official certificates would be given out by the leader of the kitsune village himself: Kurama. The certificate itself states that the kits would be able to study at a ninja institution in any hidden village, even if it is just a minor one. At this moment, the students are awaiting the results of their exams; which included a written test, physical training (including taijutsu), shuriken and kunai throwing, kenjutsu and finally; the ninjutsu and genjutsu portion.

They have all gone through many great lengths and heights, however, it is time to say goodbye. Although, our hero; Naruto, does not believe in goodbyes… he believes in, 'see you later!' and he will not see the last of his nest. Not at all. Right at this moment, they are all awaiting for their senseis to arrive with the results of the exams and everybody were talking amongst themselves in order to calm their nerves. Especially for the multi-hair coloured kit.

"Hey, Naruto-san, you feeling alright?" Tereki asked worryingly as she watched him slightly shake. As she tapped her friend on his shoulder, which made him jump slightly.

"I-… I-m fine" Naruto squeaked out as he averted his eyes, which she found quite cute in a sense as the girl sat next to him.

"You know, you don't have to try and hide that you're nervous, we all know you are. All of us in here can sense each other's emotions" Tereki reassured as the purple eyed kit calmed slightly down.

"I guess… I just don't want to disappoint tou-chan and kaa-chan" He admitted as she gained a knowing look.

"I understand, Naruto-san, we all feel like that… I guess you are just more sensitive to the emotions of others than the rest of us" The psychic girl smiled.

"Maybe you're right, I'm just overreacting" Naruto responded with his own. After that, the purple eyed kit joined the rest of the family kids in their conversation. It was all going smoothly for a couple of minutes, until it was time, that the teachers arrived, to which one of them was sporting a grin on his face.

"Good morning Bruno-sensei, Kinzoku-sensei!" The kits chorused and bowed in respect to their teachers, who nodded their heads in return.

"Alright my awesome students! You have all studied well under our guidance, but now however, as sad as it sounds, it is time to grow up and move on… and so, let us move to the assembly hall to present your certificates!" Bruno said as all the students lined up and were led to the location of the graduation ceremony place.

-Assembly Hall-

The place itself was a massive room, with a stage at the front where all the kits would gather and sing along to some songs everyone know, as well as listen to the principal's morning speeches. But today however, it is rented for class 105A's graduation ceremony. Behind the stage was a glittering golden banner with a message of 'Good Luck!' in green made by the design and fashion class, while balloons littered nearly the entire ceiling. Bright, heavenly lights shimmered into existence at the centre of the stage, awaiting for the one to show. Parents of the kits were watching on the side lines taking pictures of their children with 60's vintage-like cameras, so this once in a lifetime moment would be engraved into their memories forever.

'Damn it, kaa-chan is here too? This is gonna be so embarrassing' Naruto thought to himself with a sigh, before standing up straight again. After it all calmed down, the leader of the village has stepped out from the darkness into the spotlight with a proud smile on his face, as Bruno also made his way over to stand next to Kurama with a stack of graduation certificates. The great sage coughed into his hand as he amplified his voice with chakra, so all could hear him.

"Thank you all for coming to this special moment in time… today is a great day, where kits will move on to the next stages of their ninja career. Out there in the shinobi world, you will be facing many hardships through missions, training, and a possibility of war is always there. There will be many good times, and bad times. Missions are carried out in squads of three or four to maximise the success rate and survival of the team. I am here to wish you all luck, to the ones that choose to move out of the hive of the kitsune. And now, those who's name would be called out would please come up to the stage" Kurama finished his speech, as all the kits stood up even straighter.

"Kana Misuami" He started as the girl came up and was given the certificate by the sensei, before shaking hands with him and the leader before going to stand on the far left of the stage.

"Ichigo Kitana" The great sage continued, as the process was repeated as before.

"Yozu Tsuyoi" Kurama said as the jolly kitsune kit smiled his way through.

"Taida Kan" He continued, as the lazy kitsune sighed as he wandered onto the stage slowly.

"Tereki Shisu" Kurama announced as she teleported in front of her teacher, who gave her the certificate and went to stand at her spot on the stage.

"Kinua Kaizo" The red head called, as the vampiric kitsune grinned and walked towards the stage, getting his certificate and made his way towards his spot on the stage.

"And finally, Naruto Okami Kitsune" Kurama said with a proud smile on his face, as the purple eyed kit himself sighed in relief, who then made his way to his spot on the stage beside Kinua after getting his certificate from his sensei.

"These are the students who have worked exceptionally hard during the difficult year of studies, however, all managed to persevere in the end. That is why today, we congratulate them on their success, as they will now be making their grand choice. Starting with Naruto Okami Kitsune" The great sage announced before the purple eyed kit made his decision, unwavering even once.

"Konohagakure no Sato" Naruto started.

"Konohagakure no Sato" Kinua continued with a grin.

"Konohagakure no Sato" Tereki repeated with a small smile.

"Konohagakure no Sato" Taida sighed in annoyance.

"Konohagakure no Sato" Yozu smiled happily as he looked at Naruto with a thumbs up.

"Konohagakure no Sato" Ichigo grinned.

"Fine, Konohagakure no Sato" Kana finished the train, as everyone looked on wide eyed at the determined faces of the kits.

"How unusual for you all to unhesitatingly vow to move to a human settlement without knowing the full history behind it" Kurama tested them.

"Friends stick together until the end, there is no way we are splitting up away from Naruto!" Kinua shouted as everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

"I understand, you all pass! Please give a round of applause to this group of kits who worked hard and trained hard to get to this point and in three days from now… all will move to the hidden leaf, however, those who did not graduate, you have another chance next year. We will be able to return home however through the use of teleport markers that will allow us to travel long distances, so there is no need to worry" The great sage smiled as everyone clapped and cheered for those who graduated. The kits themselves were proud of their first ever achievement, as were all grinning like mad and patting each other's backs for a job well done and confetti going off.

"This is the end of the graduation ceremony! You may all go home early today to celebrate your kit's achievements! Good luck to you all!" Kurama shouted as he vanished in a fox fire shunshin, making the young foxes stare in awe.

'I have to learn that at some point' Naruto thought to himself as he hung out with his friends.

-Later This Evening, Kitsune Family Residence-

"Congratulations on graduating kit! I knew you could do it!" Inari screamed as she hugged him tight, making the purple eyed kit's face turn blue.

"Umm, Inari-chan, I think you should let him go" Kurama sweat dropped at her antics, as she put him down and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, while apologising to her son, who wheezed out that he forgives her. After that, they all had a hearty laugh.

"Our Naru-kun is growing up fast…" The goddess trailed off.

"Yeah" The bijuu agreed.

"Now then, we have guests coming around for tonight, so let us cook a big dinner!" Inari clapped her hands as Naruto cheered, while the great sage watched the innocent scene unfold.

"Alright, I'll help out in a bit, just have some errands to deal with first" Kurama stated as he quickly went upstairs into his study.

"So, kaa-chan… what are we making?" Naruto asked his mother.

"I can't say sweetie, it's a secret" She teased in a sing-song voice, making the kit pout.

While Inari was making the feast for the guests, Kurama and Naruto decided to clean the house before their arrival. It is important to make a good first impression on the other families that are coming over to the sleepover graduation party. Once all was done and the food was ready, the guests decided to make their appearance via a knock on the door.

"Coming!" Inari shouted as she ran to the door and opened it, to see all the families that have graduated.

"Welcome! Come in, come in!" She smiled in greetings as everyone filed in to the house.

From then, the party went on throughout the entire evening, until midnight. Everyone had a blast; as all the kits played some tabletop games after dinner, went outside into the garden to play tag, and hang with the local friendly youkai that Naruto knows. Soon after all the adults have finished eating, everyone decided to head to the local hot springs not far from home, to which they had a wonderful time before everyone had to go home to prepare for bed. The next morning, everybody had breakfast together, before all sadly had to leave for home.

"It's a shame that you have to leave already" Inari said.

"Well, we do have to pack for the day after tomorrow's journey to the Hidden Leaf Village don't we?" Kinua's mother, Tania Kaizo said.

"I guess that makes sense" The goddess replied as the guests started going back to their homes.

"In any case, we better go, we don't want to show up unprepared!" Tania smiled as she ran back home with her son.

"You excited for tomorrow Inari-chan?" Kurama came up behind her, making the woman jump.

"Yeah, although, it will be a bit nerve racking" Inari confessed as the two married couple closed the door and started to pack up.

"I understand, just remember, its also for the sake of Naruto's dream" The bijuu said, while the goddess nodded in agreement.

"I'll place a teleport marker here, so we can go back any time once we reach the hidden village and place the other one there" Inari explained while Kurama agreed and went back to packing up.

-Journey To The Leaf-

The seven families were all standing, taking in their home village for the last time (not really). The kits were all nervous and at the same time excited, the adults were as calm as ever, however, at the same time wary as they made their way out of the gates towards the land of the human race. Some of the council members decided to see them off to wish them safe travels, while also discussing some last-minute changes before leaving for their destination. The forest-like jungle in the territory of the kitsune was vast, and the great fox himself knows the fastest way through it as he led in the front of the group. As they made their way out of the Land of Magic, Inari decided to teach them all how to hide their true appearance, to disguise themselves as humans.

Most of the kits were against it however, though understood that she was teaching them it for their safety. During their long journey, they would be practising their transformations (Not the Jutsu), although, Kinua decided to turn this into a competition between him and Naruto, which made everyone sweat drop at his antics. Either way, the purple-eyed kit won as they both dropped to the floor in exhaustion, while laughing their heads off.

"Alright fine, 20 to 21, you win Naruto" Kinua said as he calmed down.

"You mean 21 to 20?" Naruto countered, as they both laughed again.

"You two seem to be having a lot of fun this evening" Inari smiled as she approached them.

"Yeah, Naruto won this time, beat me in the transformation game" The vampiric kitsune responded to the comment.

"I come to let you know that dinner is ready" The goddess said as the young kits grinned in response.

"Heck yeah! Mom's cooking is the best!" Naruto shouted as they both ran back to the camp, while Inari trailed slightly behind them with a happy smile.

On the next day, they were all nearly at the border of the Land of Fire. However, as per usual, hidden leaf ninja decided to step in and stop them for security. Kurama, Inari and the rest of the parents showed their ID's. The ninja themselves checked just in case for any trace of genjutsu tricks and since there were none, they let them all through. Kitsune can travel faster and for longer than normal humans, so making it to the Land of Fire in about five days was a pretty good time in their books. As they continued to wander through the forests, they came across a clearing with a lake, however, as Kurama and the rest of the kitsune group heard human voices, they knew they were close.

"Alright, we will camp out here for the day, there is a road close to us, which means that we are at least two days away from the village" The red head informed as everyone understood and set up camp for the night.

-Two Days Later, Konohagakure no Sato-

The group of disguised Kitsune neared the gates of the village, entering and being stopped by the gate guards. The kits stood near their parents, nervous about moving to the human settlement, while the adults themselves were calm but weary of them. They also received some slight curious stares, to which the group ignored. Kurama and Inari were signing the papers, which soon granted them entry into the human sanctuary. The gate guards told them to head for the hokage office to confirm some extra things and make certain negotiations. The red head told the other families to explore the village, while he, Inari and Naruto went off to see the place's protector.

-Hokage Mansion-

"Excuse me, but we'd like to book an appointment with the hokage" Kurama requested as they approached the desk at the back of the main lobby.

"Alright, just give me a moment" The secretary said as she checked her papers. Seeing that the hokage is free, she nodded to herself in approval and pressed a small button before speaking through small microphone on the table to the hokage, letting him know that he has an appointment.

"You may go up now, he is free from work, just keep following the hallway until you find an oddly coloured door" She said as the red head nodded and the disguised kitsune family followed the directions.

-Hokage Office-

The fourth hokage; blonde spiky hair, blue eyes, wearing the standard Konoha uniform, with a white haori over the uniform which is decorated by red flame like motifs on the edges with the kanji for 'fourth hokage' written vertically down the back. He has his blue forehead protector with the etched leaf symbol displayed proudly on his forehead. His name, was Minato Namikaze, who is hailed as one of the most powerful shinobi, as well as the 'Yellow Flash' of Konoha. He is feared by many, with a run-on-sight order in the bingo-book, especially in Iwagakure. At the moment, he was at the desk, relaxing as he has no paperwork that needs to be done. As he was relaxing, the man heard a knock on the door.

'Wonder who that could be?' Minato thought to himself.

"Come in" He answered as the kitsune family wearily approached the man. This made the yellow flash's eyes widen, as he forgot that the kids at the ninja school in the fox village graduated recently. He mentally slapped himself on the cheek, as he received and read the great sage's letter stating as such. Though, it seems with all his other paperwork, he managed to forget.

"Kurama-dono, its good to see that you made it to the village safe and sound" Minato said with a smile and a bow, to which the fox in disguise returned.

"Indeed, Namikaze-dono, though I believe you must have forgotten about our appointment in the midst of all your paperwork" Kurama guessed with a slight grin.

"How did you know that?" The yellow flash asked with shock visible on his face.

"It's a secret" The great fox answered, while the hokage slumped.

"Oh well, anyways, right to the point, so I heard that your students at the school have graduated, yes?" He checked one more time as the great sage nodded his head.

"Here are all the certificates of the students that are here in Konoha right now, stating that they are all allowed to study here at the ninja academy" Kurama informed as he handed the certificates to the yellow flash, who looked them over carefully, before approving.

"Alright, you are thereby accepted into the hidden leaf. Though, you must all be wary of us at the moment, I put my word in that we will not do anything to betray your trust. It is my ninja way after all" Minato promised, as the family slightly relaxed.

"He doesn't seem to be lying, we can trust him for now" Inari whispered to her husband, who gave a slight nod to her in agreement.

"So this must be little Naruto I've heard about from Jiraya" The hokage smiled as he saw the purple-eyed kit peak out from behind his father's legs.

"He's adorable. We have a daughter of our own, will be starting the academy very soon" Minato said.

"What's her name?" Inari asked.

"Her name is Hikari, Hikari-Uzumaki-Namikaze" The yellow flash answered as he daydreamed slightly about finishing his work early to go spend time with his family.

"Anyways, we have already set up accommodations for all the families. The houses are out there in a special wild forest zone made just for you. I know how much you are not fond of the human civilisation, though I do hope you will get used to us soon" Minato bowed slightly, while Kurama waved it off.

"It's fine, but remember, a small sign of betrayal and we might consider leaving the village and back to ours, understood?" The great sage said, as the hokage nodded his head.

"I understand, Kurama-dono, I promise that we will guarantee your safety here, and I will try my hardest to keep any unwanted schemes by others at bay" Minato promised as he thought of only one man who could mess this alliance up, making him internally scowl.

"Good, now, do we need to fill out any forms?" Kurama asked.

"Not really, you already gave me the proof I need that your son is eligible to study at the hidden leaf ninja academy, so there is no need to sign anymore forms" The hokage said while the family sighed in relief, getting sick of the paperwork.

"Now then, if you will excuse us, we have some things to do" Kurama said before they left the office. Minato sighed in relief that his job is done, before the toad sage appeared at the window, making the blonde hokage sigh once more.

"Is there that one time that you'll use the door?" He asked.

"No, I don't think I will" Jiraya said as he hopped into the office.

"What is it that you are here for Jiraya?" Minato asked the toad sage before he responded.

"I can't seem to remember the location of their village since I have exited it, there is no way to pin point their land on the map" Jiraya answered, while the blonde hokage thought.

"It seems that they have some sort of memory wiping magic all the way around the border, smart" Minato sighed for the one-hundredth time today.

"It is. But I am so certain that I have been there before, the layout of it and its entire location has been wiped though…" The perverted hermit replied while rubbing the back of his head in thought.

"I can guess is that they don't trust us enough to freely give their location up. I understand their distrust. Please allow the kitsune clan their privacy as well" The hokage guessed.

"Oh well, I guess it makes sense, anyways, I'll be off to do my research now if you don't mind…" The pervert grinned as he vanished through the window, making Minato shake his head disapprovingly, before deciding to head home for the day as there's nothing left to do.

-Deep Within The Forest Of Konoha-

Arriving at a clearing with a waterfall, the families discovered that there is a small settlement; some houses closer and some farther away from the lake. Everyone decided to start exploring the place, while all idly complimented and judged the hard work trying to make it seem as natural as possible. Although everyone don't feel as comfortable here unlike at home, where the land of magic and the kitsune village is protected by full on magic casted by youkai and the natural magic that seems to emanate across their homeland. Once the Kitsune family have arrived from the meeting with their hokage, Kurama let them all know that they are going to cast their own magical protection in this small slightly hidden forest village, making everyone sigh in relief.

Later on in the day, the first priority of all the families was to settle down and try to get used to the new environment. It was agreed already that Kurama, Inari and Naruto were going to have the biggest property. The rest of the families decided to then choose the house that would best suit them, and once they made their final decision, placed their teleport markers back to their village in hidden locations, so that nobody would ever notice. Kurama then announced a campfire night to everyone, making all the kits cheer. It has been a long time since all the main families gathered together and had fun. They would sing folk songs that they know, have a great feast, take a dive into the lake they have to themselves, and finally eat marshmallows by the fire. It was a fantastic night, though it was finally time to head to sleep, for preparations of a big change that is going to hit Naruto and his friends.

End of Chapter

Yo! Apologies for how short this chapter is, as well as for the long wait! I started work not long ago and uni is going to start soon in a couple of weeks, so updates might take even longer then expected. Also, I have struggled a ton on this chapter, since I didn't know how it should go. Kind of a writer's block there, so, sorry if it might've been poorly written. The next is gonna be better, promise! As usual though, thanks for your awesome support as always!

Review Corner:

anom: Chill pall, I listen to all reviewer's opinions even if they are bad, good, or even constructive! This is not a Hinata x Naruto story, relax. Sometimes feel that this pairing might be a tiny bit overrated… but who gives a damn if it is?

End of Review Corner

Anyways, I have nothing else to say other than thanks for taking the time out of your day to read my fanfic, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!

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Ja Ne!