Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor am I an expert on the Naruto Universe.


Chapter 6: Last Chances

Naruto drew on the large scroll attached to the wall near his kitchen. He consulted his book as he tried to sketch a rough outline of the human body. Two hours later, and several failed scrolls later, a knock at the door roused him from his stupor. "Yes?" he called.

"Naruto-san, are you going to come with us to the Tradesman's Festival?" Shikamaru called through the door.

Naruto sighed and got up. "Probably not a good idea," he called back as he made his way to the door. Standing on the walkway outside his apartment, three people looked back at him. Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino of all people. The blonde girl stared back at him with some defiance, as if challenging him to question why she was there.

"Why not? I heard you said you picked up a nice set of senbon last year."

"I told that to Iruka-sensei," Naruto grumbled as he nodded to Choji. The overweight boy snacked on a bag of chips and nodded back.

"You still went," Shikamaru pressed.

"Just come on," Ino snapped. "We'll be late, and if I get dragged into any more of my family's politics, I might scream."

Naruto thought she was close to screaming already. "Whatever, I'll go," he sighed. "Let me put away my stuff," he continued and stepped back into his apartment. Before he cleared three steps, Ino was already inside, looking around.

"Oh, wow, it's tidy and clean," the blonde girl gasped. She ran a finger over a kitchen counter and blinked. "No food stains even," she muttered.

"I'm not a pig," Naruto shot back as he collected the scrolls with his mistakes on them and rolled them up. He'd throw them out once as he left.

"Hey, watch who you say that to!" Ino snapped.

Naruto hid a smile. He knew the wanna-be kunoichi had a sore spot about her name. "Naruto-san, those are Chakra Paths," Shikamaru stated from the doorway. He was looking at the wall scroll with a frown.

"Yeah, so?"

"Interesting," the Nara mused and stuck his hands in his pockets.

It took Naruto three minutes to clean up and stow everything away. Ino, it seemed, had no hesitation in snooping through his things. "Where are your other clothes?" she asked from Naruto's bedroom.

"You're looking at them," he called. "Come on, she can snoop around all day. I don't keep anything here she could steal anyway," he said as he moved to the door.

Shikamaru and Choji shared a look but shrugged a moment later. They followed Naruto out. It took Ino another three minutes for her to catch up with them. "Hey! You left me behind," she complained.

"You seemed more interested in looking through Naruto's stuff," Shikamaru said while staring at the clouds. He had his hands locked behind his head and seemed perfectly comfortable walking without looking where he was going.

"I just wanted to see what the dobe does when he isn't goofing off in class," Ino challenged.

"He's... smarter... than you," Choji interjected through a mouthful of chips.

"Ew, chew first. There is no way he is smarter than me!"

"You obviously didn't look around well enough," Shikamaru argued. "Naruto, what do you want to be?"

Naruto, a little apart from the group, looked at the inquisitive Nara and shrugged. "A medical-nin," he eventually answered.

Ino's laughter hurt him more than he'd realized. "You? Naruto, come on. You've failed every year at the Academy so far," she chuckled.

"I don't think he has," Choji mused aloud. He looked over at Naruto. "Want a chip?" he asked.

"Uh, sure."

The Tradesman's Festival wasn't as bad as Naruto thought it might be. Ino was a constant annoyance, but at the same time, she kept things interesting. The blonde-haired typhoon bounced from stall to stall, showing them things she liked and negotiating with the vendors. Shikamaru watched everything with a bored expression. Choji stopped at every stall with food. He bought one item he thought either looked or smelled the best and ate it before the group made it to the next vendor selling food.

Naruto purchased nothing. When he found a small tanto that looked cool, the proprietor quoted him an astronomical price. The third time it happened, Shikamaru went back and asked for a quote. Naruto didn't need his sensitive ears to know the villager offered Shikamaru a far reduced price.

"Did you see anything you liked?" Shikamaru asked after three hours of wandering through the festival.

"No, thanks for asking," Naruto lied with a smile.

"Oh, you should have gotten those clothes from the San-san Clothier. They would have fit you well and might even have improved your looks," Ino said with an arched eyebrow.

"I'm good with what I have," he answered with a shrug. He thought the sharp black military pants and orange top would have looked good on him if the prices hadn't been double what they were worth.

"We're headed back to the compounds, want to join us?" Shikamaru asked as he finished his last dango.

"Thanks, but I need to get some stuff done."

"See you around," Choji said with a nod as he followed Shikamaru toward the Clan District.

"You aren't so bad," Ino mused as she looked Naruto over. "You really should think about getting a better outfit, or at least change things up a little. You look like you roll around in the dirt before coming in for class," she helpfully said with a strained smile. Without saying another word, she ran to catch up with the others.

Over the next several days, Naruto's drive to learn more about the human body wained. The Hokage's attention was on the Council and some drama that happened at the Academy. No one would talk about it, but Naruto managed to piece some bits of information together from whispered conversations he overheard. Chunin Instructor Fumi disappeared and was thought to be dead. The Lead Instructor Kenzo left the village during the night and managed to slip by the security net around the village. Finally, the Academy Director stepped down and reportedly hadn't been seen in public in days.

Since Hiruzen's focus was elsewhere, Naruto felt comfortable relaxing his persona as a good grandson. As his forced drive to learn wained, his depression crept back into the forefront of his thoughts. He watched new genin teams do menial labor around the village from the top of the Hokage Monument. Hiruzen said he wouldn't need Naruto's help for a few weeks while the genin adjusted to their new roles within the village.

" I came up here to clear my head," a cultured, familiar voice said from the railing several feet behind where Naruto sat on the head of the Third Hokage.

Naruto looked back to see Kabuto-sensei smiling at him. "I'm told, my mentor went to see the Hokage about your attendance," he stated and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"Yeah, he did."

"Why do you want to become a medical-nin?"

Naruto started to give the same answer he had to Hiruzen but thought better of it. The genin was closer to his age and might understand Naruto's feelings better than the aging Hokage. "It's my best chance to do what I want after graduating," he finally admitted.

"The hard truth is, after you graduate, you'll have even fewer opportunities to do what you want," the medical-nin stated in a flat voice.

Naruto winced and went back to staring out at the village. A minute later, he heard the soft crunch of loose gravel as Kabuto landed on the monument. "Without the right support, you'll be sucked deeper into the various groups and factions within the village," the genin continued. "Being a medical-nin might save you from some of that," Kabuto allowed as he sat down a few feet away from Naruto.

Naruto was regretting his decision to tell Kabuto anything. He sat there in silence, watching a group of three fresh genin clustered around a large tree near the Hokage Residence.

"Since I'm here, how have your studies gone? We're not allowed to directly contact anyone within the group during the seminars, and you leave too early to ask questions. As a professional, I have to ask, how much are you actually getting out of the classes?"

Naruto glanced over at Kabuto. "I get enough, I suppose," he allowed.

"I was teaching the Chakra Pathway System before we left. How confident are you in drawing the three hundred and sixty-one tenketsu?" Naruto grunted his answer. "Ah, that good, huh? It's one of the harder things to memorize."

"I'm still working on it," Naruto muttered. He didn't feel like learning more medical-nin stuff at the moment.

"Let's go with something easier, and maybe even more important. How is your chakra control?"

The question made Naruto sigh and rub his face with one hand. It was a sore spot for him. His Clone Jutsu hadn't made any improvement in longer than he wanted to admit to anyone, in spite of his efforts. "I'm still working on it," he allowed after it became clear Kabuto wouldn't say anything else without an answer.

"Good, we'll start there. Come on, get up," the ash-haired genin ordered. "Well, don't just stare at me. Come on. There are plenty of exercises you can do to work on Chakra Control. If you don't have the basics down, you'll never be able to do much under your own power. Well, come on," he pressed.

Naruto got up and shrugged. He followed Kabuto at an easy run toward one of the training grounds above the monument. In the clearing that doubled as a training area, there was a large waterfall at the back of a sheer rock wall that sent sprays of water into the air. Kabuto stopped near the deep stream coming off the waterfall and sat down. Naruto took a seat and cocked an eyebrow at Kabuto.

"You kept up well, how much chakra did you use to supplement your natural reserves to follow me?"

"You weren't going that fast. We could have gone a little faster before I needed to use chakra in my legs and feet."

"Interesting," Kabuto muttered and pushed up his glasses. "Do you mind if I use my chakra to read your body?"

"Uh, I'm not sure that is a good idea," Naruto hedged.

"Nonsense, I'm a trained medical-nin."

Naruto muttered to himself for a moment. "Fine, what could you even tell me?" he questioned as he extended a hand. He desperately wanted to know why he couldn't perform the basic Clone Jutsu. So far, Iruka-sensei hadn't been able to help him, and he wasn't sure how he felt about the Hokage. It was his duty to inform Hiruzen about anything odd, everyone knew that, but he just couldn't bring himself to talk to him.

Kabuto's smile seemed to deepen, touching the corners of his eyes, as he took Naruto's hand. Naruto felt a strange feeling come over him as the medical-nin's hands began to glow. A rush of minuscule, but foreign chakra invaded his hand. I took everything he had not to lash out as a gut instinct.

"You have... an overwhelmingly enormous chakra base," Kabuto seemed to babble as his unfocused, wide eyes stared into the distance.

"So I've been told," Naruto grumbled.

"That is your problem," the ash-haired genin continued with a slight frown. "You seem almost too efficient at gathering chakra. The sheer amount of charka within your body would kill almost anyone."

Naruto gulped and quickly yanked his hand out of Kabuto's grasp. It took the medical-nin a moment to blink and for his eyes to refocus. "Don't worry, I know what you are. Most of the village has some clue or guess. It's probably the worst kept secret in the Elemental Lands," Kabuto tempered with a smile.

Naruto grunted but didn't say anything. That wasn't the way the Hokage made it sound.

"Well, either way, I found something interesting and a possible solution."

"Really? What did you find?"

"Without consulting an expert I revere, I can confidently say a lot of your problem is coming from the way you train. Your chakra isn't in balance." Naruto blinked and cocked his head to one side, urging Kabuto to continue. "You understand how chakra works, right?"

"Well, yeah, it comes from our bodies. There is a limited amount, and when we want to use a jutsu, we use just the right amount of chakra to perform whatever it is we're trying to do," Naruto answered with a shrug.

"Yes... and no," Kabuto answered with a frown. "You have a basic understanding of how chakra works. There is so much more, that... well, you probably haven't even read yet. I sometimes forget how young you are. Okay, let me see if I can't simplify things, and you can try and work out what is wrong.

Chakra is in our bodies that we control and manipulate that force to use justus, or abilities. It isn't visible to the naked eye unless a high concentration of chakra is present in one area. I won't go into detail, but there are limitations on the body that prevent too much chakra from escaping at one time. There are some ways around that, but this doesn't pertain to your issue, if anything, you're an anomaly. You release too much at one time.

I've talked about the Chakra Pathway System, so I don't need to go into that, but it is important for you because of the way the chakra is generated. You are... what you are," Kabuto said with a furtive look around the clearing. "Chakra is created through the primal energies within our bodies that are collectively known as stamina. Well, that's the accepted term now. There were other names, but that's beside the point. Stamina is a molding and combining process of physical energy and mental, or spiritual, energies. There is some debate as to what components make up mental energy and what makes up a spiritual one.

So, two energies work hand in hand, as equals, to create what we understand as chakra. Follow me so far? Good. Your natural chakra base is massive. You won't tire out nearly as fast as even a chunin or possibly a jonin might. Let's talk about your physical energy. You simply are a powerhouse. I'd say you probably spend half or more of your day doing physical training, just going off of your muscular structure."

Naruto blinked. "I don't really track how long I train for. It helps me sleep to wear myself out," he admitted. "I have a regimen I've made and keep up with."

"You certainly don't need any help there. You're probably at a physical level of a mid-chunin rank. That doesn't mean you are as good as a chunin, though. This is where you're lacking and where I think your problem may lay. Mental energies can not be ignored. You're working on medical-nin training. So, that means, you aren't studying things like jutsus, or meditating, or simply haven't had the experience yet to understand, instinctively where your problem is. If I'm right, you learn best through doing things over and over again, right?"

"I suppose so," Naruto answered after a moment. "I take longer to learn things than the others."

"I'm not talking about your comprehension level, or overall intelligence. I'm talking about the way you learn things best. Do you hear something and can remember it best? Do you see something and can duplicate it. Maybe not like an Uchiha, but you get what I mean. There are different ways we learn things. I, for example, can read a book and comprehend what I'm learning better than I can when someone tells me how to do something," Kabuto confided with a smile. "It drove my master insane to have to share his notes with me."

Naruto stretched, putting his hands behind his head as he tried to think. "I suppose... I learn best by doing something. They taught us how to make traps, but wouldn't let us try. Until I got... home... and practiced, I didn't really understand what Instructor Oshita-san was teaching," he answered after a few minutes.

"Okay, good, we have something to work with. You are a tactile learner. The best way for you to learn is by doing. However, you can do something over and over again without seeing any improvement, if you keep doing the same thing. Ah, I know that look. Okay, let me ask you something, are you trying to change the way you study your basic jutsus?"

"Uh, what do you mean? I just read whatever the scroll or book says and... well... do it," Naruto asked.

"How are you studying? Are you taking concepts and applying it to how you naturally form your chakra? Let's take an example. What is your worst jutsu?"

Naruto grunted. "The Clone Jutsu," he muttered.

Kabuto blinked and drummed his fingers on his knee. He didn't speak for some time, and Naruto wondered if something was wrong. "That makes some sense," the medical-nin finally said. "You are completely lopsided when it comes to how you form your chakra. It's like everything you do is physical, a blunt object that batters down its obstacle."

"I'm not a blunt object!"

"No, no, I'm using a crude explanation to how you form your chakra. You don't give it any thought. You just try to do. I haven't worked with many Academy Students, so it could be more prevalent than just your unusual case. That's something I should look into," Kabuto muttered before nodding. "That would be good research," he continued with a faraway look. "If you... oh, sorry, I got distracted. Anyway, uh... right, the way you form your chakra."

Naruto waited with Kabuto seemed to think things over. "I'm doing things wrong?" he eventually asked.

The medical-nin winced and shook his head. "No, what you're doing is fine. It works. You just have so much raw chakra that I'm sure you struggle with the mental side of performing jutsus. Frankly, you don't think through the process. You just throw your weight around, and it works. If I were to guess, you burn a ton of chakra doing it that way. Granted, you have such a huge pool to draw from, I doubt you even realize how much you're wasting," he finished with a shrug.

"So, what does that mean?" Naruto asked, with a sinking feeling in his stomach. He'd read enough to know what Kabuto might be hinting at.

"Frankly, you'll never make it as a medical-nin if you continue doing what you're doing."

Naruto felt like someone punched him in the gut. He sucked in a breath. "What am I doing wrong? How can I fix it? I want this!" he all but yelled.

Kabuto blinked. "It isn't as bad as you think, Naruto-san. It just means you need to think through what you're reading and apply it to how you use your chakra. In time, you will become more balanced as you gain an understanding of not only whatever material you're working on, but also how you naturally use your chakra," he answered with a smile.

"Can you help me?"

"I... wish I could dedicate my time to helping you. Sadly, I can't. That doesn't mean I can't give you some things to read or have an afternoon like this to talk, but I can't train you to think things through."

Naruto felt a bubble of excitement rise in his chest. "I'll do anything I can! I need to get this jutsu down. I have to graduate," he said as he punched his fist into his hand.

Kabuto smiled and sat forward. "I'll get some things for you to read. Meet me back here in three days or so, about the same time. I'm not sure when I can get away like today, but I can stop by to give you some notes I have from when I was starting to learn the same things you are now. Friends?" he asked as he offered his hand.

Caught up in the moment, Naruto agreed and shook. "Friends!"

Iruka-sensei greeted the class as he closed the sliding door behind him. "Good morning," he said with a wide smile. "I see everyone is already here, good."

"Good morning," the class chorused back in varying levels of enthusiasm.

Naruto, sitting at the back of the class, nodded to the instructor. He hadn't seen Iruka since before the break started. It hadn't taken him long to learn that the friendly chunin became the Lead Instructor for the Academy.

"This year, I'm focusing on correcting, improving, and helping all of you graduate. Thankfully, the Hokage has given me permission to oversee most of your training. Instead of bouncing around between multiple instructors, I'll dedicate the majority of the day with you, as will all the homeroom instructors. We're trying a new thing this year. A structured learning system. I, and the Head of the Academy, hope that we'll see an increase in graduates this year and every year to come," Iruka finished as he stood in front of the class. Naruto looked down at the smiling instructor and wondered what would change.

"So, you'll be working with us individually?" Haruno Sakura asked, belatedly remembering to raise her hand.

Iruka smiled. "Yes, and I'll be coming up with training plans for each of you. Eventually, everyone in the Academy will have a personalized plan, but you all are my priority. Over the next week or so, I'll work one-on-one with you all to gauge where you truly stand now and where you need to be to graduate," he answered and pulled a sheet of paper out of his flack jacket. "Alright, roll call. I know all of you, but I still have to follow procedures."

Naruto escaped Iruka-sensei's questioning twenty minutes after the official Academy day was over. The inquisitive chunin wouldn't stop pestering him about his break. Naruto answered as best he could, without giving away anything. He wanted to see Iruka's face, and the faces of his fellow students, when he showed off his skills in class.

"Naruto-san, there you are," Choji called out as he sat atop a crate beside the road. Shikamaru and Ino talked to each other, their backs turned to Choji, a few feet away. They turned to look at Naruto as he approached.

"Choji-san, what's up?"

"We wanted you to come with us to look at this new shinobi tool shop we found," Ino decreed as she walked over to Naruto. She looked him up and down. "We hadn't seen you at all since the festival. Shikamaru stopped by your place but you weren't there," she accused.

"I've been busy," Naruto shrugged.

"Mom said you were at the Library a lot," Choji said before biting into a beef stick.

Naruto winced and eyed the rotund boy. "I was," he admitted. "I didn't see your mom though."

Choji snorted and shook his head. "Mom doesn't leave the compound much. One of her friends told her. She's part of the Allied Mothers Force. Basically every mother in Konoha talks... and gossips. You can bet someone is watching us now, and my mom will know about it sooner rather than later," he grumbled.

"My mother does seem to know a lot about what I do," Shikamaru mused. "Eh, what can you do."

Ino eyed the two boys with something like scorn but held her tongue. "Anyway, you're coming with us," she said as she turned to Naruto.

"I don't," he started to say, but Ino ignored his protest and yanked on his arm. "Fine, for just a few minutes," he grumbled.

Ino babbled on about her break and all the things she did while Shikamaru looked bored and Choji ate from a seemingly never-exhausting supply of sweets. "... so I was visiting my aunt," the boisterous blonde said before cutting off. "Oh, here we are," she remarked and ran over to a short, traditional-style shop between two new buildings. The sign overhead read, 'Shinobi Tools: Kazuki Family'.

Naruto entered last and blinked as the darkened interior of the shop blinded him for a moment. Shikamaru opened one eye and closed the other as he looked around. Inside the shop, a few wall scrolls had beautiful phrases written by an expert in calligraphy. Several weapons hung from racks on the wall with ornate scabbards and silk wrappings. Ino already darted from one display table to another. She made noises of appreciation as she inspected some of the weapons but didn't touch the product.

"Are you looking for anything in particular?" a smooth, soft voice asked from behind the counter.

Naruto looked up, startled. He hadn't noticed the one-armed man until just then. It was evident Choji and Shikamaru hadn't noticed him either by the way they shifted beside Naruto. "Oh, I just found out about this place," Ino greeted with a big smile. "Tell me, how long have you been here, oji-san?"

The proprietor made a noise in the back of his throat that might have been a laugh or a grunt. "I've owned this shop for eleven years, young lady," he answered with a small bow. The man's short hair, stylized beard, and sharp dress made him look more refined than many of the villagers that Naruto was used to seeing.

"You were a shinobi," Shikamaru stated.

"I was until I lost my arm," the man stated. "I settled down afterward to become a weapons dealer and part-time smith."

A woman appeared as a purple curtain moved to one side behind the counter. Wearing a modest dress she wheeled herself down a short ramp. Her chin came up to the top of the counter. "Welcome," she greeted as she pushed a lock of long black hair away from her eyes.

"Greetings," the group answered.

Naruto inspected the lady and noticed her well-muscled shoulders and forearms as she wheeled herself around the edge of the counter. "What brings you all to see us today?" she questioned with a bright smile.

It was then Naruto knew why the woman was in a wheelchair. She'd lost both her legs at the knees. While the dress hid her stumps, they were still outlined in a fabric, stretched tight from being tucked up under her thighs. "Ino-san, told us about this place," he said to cover the silence. It was clear the others also noticed the woman's wounds.

"Ah, I lost them when I was a kunoichi," the lady said with a gentle wave to her legs. "Were you looking for anything in particular?"

"I... uh... we," Ino stammered, her eyes locked on the woman's legs. She moved her head as if trying to look away, but she seemed horrified and fascinated by the spectacle before her.

Naruto looked at Choji and Shikamaru. They, too seemed, transfixed by the woman. He'd seen plenty of people who'd lost limbs in the village. Most had been genin who failed a mission with disastrous results for their military careers. "I need a holster for either senbon or kunai. I haven't decided which yet," he said to cover for the others.

The lady smiled at him, a thin, tired widening of her mouth. "Graduating soon?" she asked. Her eyes flicked to his face before freezing. It took her less time than the children to recover, but Naruto knew she recognized him.

"Yes," was all he answered.

"Will you be wearing the same outfit you are now while using the holsters?" the man asked from the counter.

"Probably not, no."

That caused Ino and Shikamaru to turn around and look at him. "Really?" Ino asked, her eyes wider than normal. "You're finally going to get rid of that junk you call clothes?"

Shikamaru didn't speak, but he was obviously waiting for Naruto's answer. "He can wear whatever he likes," the woman in the wheelchair commented. "A holster," she mused aloud. The hesitation she'd had in her voice was gone, replaced by a professional demeanor. "You aren't done growing. Where do you feel most comfortable drawing your weapon from?" she asked.

"Thigh holsters, middle of my back, and left arm."

The woman smiled. "My name is Kazuki Yano, and this is my husband Kazuki Yahiro. We have a daughter, Tenten that has just become a genin. Let's find a holster option for you," she announced. Before the lady could turn, Yahiro was at her side, two pouches in hand.

"Try these," he said, offering the leather-wrapped pouches.

Naruto was skeptical at first about the couple, but after a few minutes, they seemed to treat him like any other customer. Ino watched on with a critical eye, but Shikamaru and Choji wandered around the shop. "You should put the holster higher up on your leg," the blonde girl suggested.

"No, his natural inclination is to bend at the knees a little to reach for a weapon," Yano asserted with a smile. "Left and right are about the same. You use both hands when practicing?" she asked.

"I try to, just in case my right arm is disabled. That happened once. It sucked trying to get away," Naruto answered without thinking. When realized what he'd said, he looked up to see everyone watching him with different expressions. He tried to ignore them.

"A pouch on your arm won't work," Yahiro eventually said. "It's too awkward of a draw for you."

Naruto grunted in agreement. "O well, I thought it might look cool. I can still get a few pouches for my belt," he sighed.

"Use both holsters on your thighs, a backup weapon sheathed at the base of your back, and either a flack-jacket design, once you become a chunin, or small pouches on your belt. The last thing you want is to restrict your movement," the woman offered with a smile.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," Naruto answered. "How much are we talking for these?" he asked, gesturing to the pouches attached to his leg and arm.

"They are good quality, so three hundred ryo each," Yahiro answered without a beat.

Naruto blinked and looked at the shopkeeper. That price was more than fair and even lower than some of the other shops. Something in his face must have shown. "You three will become shinobi," the older man explained. "Call it an investment," he finished with a smile.

"Thank you," Naruto finally said and bowed a little.

"It is our pleasure," Yano answered with a small bow of her head. "Would anyone else like to look around?" she asked.

Naruto hung back and watched as Shikamaru and Ino looked over the collection of weapons, scrolls, and tools. He and Choji talked about their favorite foods. Shikamaru, with the help of Yano, found a set of kunai he liked the feel of, and Ino, with the help of Yahiro, bought a small pouch of dried herbs and a set of senbon.

"What did you think?" Shikamaru asked Naruto once they'd left the shop.

"Probably nice," he answered with a shrug.

"I... haven't seen many people who had such serious injuries from being a shinobi," Ino admitted in a quiet voice.

"You haven't explored the village then. There are a lot of people like that. Your clans quietly remove anyone who's not whole and send them off to places in the countryside. I heard that from someone in the baths," Naruto answered with a pointed look at Ino.

"How many people are we talking?" Shikamaru asked, looking around.

"We aren't in the right district to see the crippled and the maimed. I think the old man wants to show everyone outside the village that we're a strong village, so people who aren't seen as 'whole' are kinda kept away from the public areas."

"That can't be right," Choji said through a mouthful of chips. "My uncle has a lost arm, and I see him all the time."

"Maybe I'm wrong," Naruto answered with a shrug. "If you ever want to see what I mean, go to the Grass District. That's not its official name, I don't think, but everyone knows where it is."

"What is its official name?" Ino challenged, but she didn't have her usual fire behind her words when she was angry.

"It's off Powders Street and the White Walk."

Shikamaru grunted and blew out a breath. "My mother would never let me hear the end of it, if we went there. I'll take your word for it," he said with a judicious nod.

"Why? What's over there? I've never heard of those places," Ino asked.

Choji looked uncomfortable. "There are some... women who work at night," he tried to delicately explain.

Ino's face went bright red. "Oh," she muttered. "I need to get home, it's been fun, bye!" she called as she turned around and strode away.

"That was quick," Naruto commented with a smile.

"Are there really... well... what you said?" Shikamaru asked as he turned to look Naruto in the eyes.

"Old and young. I never really thought about it until I saw that shop. How many people have you seen who are missing an arm or leg around the village?"

Choji and Shikamaru exchanged looks. "Not all that many, except the ones everyone likes," the Nara admitted.

"Maybe I'll ask Hiruzen-sama about it," Naruto mused.

Again the two friends exchanged looks but didn't say anything. "You off as well?" Choji asked.

"I should. I'll see you two tomorrow."

Naruto jumped down from a tree into the clearing of his new favorite training ground. The crash of the waterfall echoed in his ears as he unrolled a tight bundle of scrolls from his sling-bag. A cold breeze ripped through the clearing an hour later, rousing Naruto from his meditation. He looked around to see the scrolls he'd been using for references were scattered all over the place.

"How are you progressing, Naruto?" Kabuto asked as he walked out of the tree line.

Naruto looked up and rolled the scroll into its protective cover. "Great! These scrolls are amazing," he gushed as he jumped to his feet. "I wouldn't have gotten this far without your notes. Where did you even find this stuff?" he asked.

Kabuto smiled a thin smile. "I've collected a lot over the years. Some of this is just my observations. I'm glad they are helping you center your chakra. It will be very useful in the future," he answered as he came closer.

"I haven't seen you in a while. Did you get sent off on another mission?"

"No, I took a small vacation to see some friends near Wave. You've kept up your training? What about what I suggested?"

"Osu! I've done everything you said for weeks now. It's becoming easier to control my chakra. Thank you so much! I can do the Clone Jutsu now and even control it to some extent," Naruto answered with a fist pump.

"And what I suggested?" Kabuto repeated.

Naruto shrugged. "I haven't told anyone about what I'm working on. No one has seen me train, that I know of. I've been very careful," he answered. "They wouldn't believe me anyway."

Kabuto smiled. "I know you want everyone to recognize you for how good you are now, but secrets are what make us shinobi. The less people know about you, the better. How are you doing with your meditation?" he asked.

"Eh, I still struggle with it. It's hard to look inside myself like you said. I don't even know why you think there would be a seal inside me. It's on my stomach."

"It'll be there. That may be the secret to completely balancing your chakra. We'll know... when you are able to calm your mind enough."

"Oh! Iruka-sensei is going to work with us one-on-one. I can show him what I can do now, right? Do you think it's a good idea? I mean, he might have some ideas too."

Kabuto smiled and wrapped on arm around Naruto's shoulder. "It might be better to show a little improvement, but not a lot. You said he's helped you before. He still can. Iruka-san is a good shinobi," he answered with a grin. "I'm more worried about what he might have to put into an official document. You know some villagers don't want you to pass. It's better to keep to the shadows."

Naruto nodded, remembering all too well the injustice of someone altering his tests. He hadn't had to tell Kabuto that the villagers hated him. His new friend already guessed that Naruto was having difficulties in and outside of the Academy. "You have a good point," he nodded. "Thank you, I wouldn't have thought of that. I'm just so excited! I've made more progress in a few weeks than I have doing everything alone."

"That's what I'm here for, Naturo. To be your friend."

Naruto ghosted through the crowd of villagers, henged as a middle-aged man. Shouts and curses came from half-a-block behind him. Several villagers stopped and looked back, allowing him to slip past a family of five.

"What is it now?"

"I'll bet it's that demon, Naruto, again!"

"Why can't the Hokage do something about that menace?"

Naruto listened to the grumbles and complaints of the villagers around him. He hadn't even been the one to start the commotion. One of Kabuto's scrolls talked about a possible way to blend in with a large crowd, using chakra like a sort of bubble, or barrier, around him. When something foreign touched Naruto's attention, through his chakra, he would know to adjust his body to slip by. The notes said he could eventually learn how to locate foreign objects inside someone's body if he trained.

Naruto slipped into an alley and glanced back over his shoulder. An average-sized young woman with a slender frame stood at the mouth of the alley, her arms folded. She had violet hair with a short, spiky ponytail that fanned out above her head. A metal mesh shirt covered her body from neck to thigh. Her tan overcoat flapped in the light breeze, revealing the dark orange miniskirt she wore around her waist. "Boy, I know you're henged," she stated.

Naruto's eyes flicked up to the leaf headband partially hidden in the woman's bangs. "So? I didn't do whatever happened back there," he shot back. He set his feet, ready to run if the kunoichi decided to chase after him for some reason.

"I know, I've been tracking you for hours since you got out of class," she answered. "What exactly are you doing? You've been moving in and out of crowds as different people."

"Training," was all Naruto answered.

"Odd sort of training. I just beat people to a pulp," the kunoichi shot back with a challenging smirk. "What could you learn by hiding as a villager?"

"That's for me to know."

"Well, whatever kid. If you want to waste your time, go for it."

Naruto nodded and turned to leave. A flicker of movement was all the warning he had as a sharp stick darted at him. If he hadn't been still focused on maintaining his chakra focus, he'd have missed the attack. Dodging back out of reflex, Naruto watched the wooden skewer fly past where his cheek was a moment before. He drew two senbon from his left sleeve with a flick and launched them at the woman.

"Quick," the kunoichi commented as she caught the senbon with one hand. "I wasn't going to do anything," she teased. "Maybe put a scratch on those chubby cheeks of yours."

Naruto crouched on a raised platform, his attention fully on the dangerous woman in front of him. Something wasn't right. "What do you want?" he asked. His instincts told him to run, but he wasn't sure how far he'd get. This kunoichi was some sort of elite.

"Another dango," the woman answered and used his senbon to pick at her sparkling teeth. "Come on," she instructed.

"I'll pass, keep the senbon," Naruto answered. He still didn't move.

"You don't get a choice, boy. Come."

"Thanks, but no thanks."

"Naruto-san, this isn't a request. Come... with... me," the kunoichi ordered. "I'll go to the old man if I have to."

Naruto glared at the woman. "What do you want?" he asked. He saw something flash in the kunoichi's eyes. Even knowing the attack was coming, he still was unable to dodge the senbon thrown at him. It thumped into his thigh, right above one of the Earth Meridian tenketsus. His left leg went numb as his feet touched the ground.

"That was my only warning," the kunoichi stated.

Naruto felt sweat pouring down his back. Less than an inch lower, and he'd have lost complete control of his left leg. "Fine," he spat as he stood straighter. With a swift jerk, he removed the senbon and wiped his blood off on his ripped jumpsuit. The henge had dissipated as soon as he was hit. He placed his palms together, fingers interlocked, into the snake hand seal. With a burst of chakra, he flooded his body, releasing the temporary paralysis in his thigh.

The kunoichi blinked and looked him over. "That was quick," she mused as he walked toward her. "I expected you to limp for at least another ten minutes."

"I'll follow," Naruto grated out as he slid the bloodied senbon up his sleeve.

"I'm Anko. I expect you can keep up," she stated with one last look at him before bounding up the wall of the alley and onto the roof in three jumps.

"Baka-san," Naruto grumbled and tried to follow.

Ten minutes later, he landed on the hard-packed earth a few seconds after Anko did, outside a two-story wooden building near the Jonin Standby Station. The characters for dango were painted red across three white balls, held up by a long wooden stake through the center. Anko strode over to the entrance, pushing aside a blue curtain protecting the patrons already inside. She didn't look back.

Naruto waited near the entrance, not wanting to go inside. She'd either come out and tell him what she wanted or, better yet, she'd forget about him entirely. Taking a seat on a bench under a large tree, he watched the entrance, just to make sure the crazy kunoichi wouldn't sneak up on him. Ten minutes later, Anko came out holding three sticks of dango in one hand and biting into a fourth one. The white ball disappeared into her mouth as she scowled, looking around.

Naruto waited until she saw him. It didn't take long. Anko's eyes narrowed as she stalked toward him. They stared at each other, five feet apart. Naruto realized this crazy kunoichi had light brown eyes, but she had no pupils. It was a little unsettling, reminding him of a Hyuga's eyes.

"You didn't follow me," Anko challenged as she ate the last ball on her stick.

"I did," Naruto answered in what he hoped was a calm voice. "I just didn't want to go inside."

"What is this?" a soft voice asked. Naruto looked over to see a fair-skinned woman. Her slender build, long, untamed black hair, and unique red eyes made her stand out. He knew who she was. The Genjutsu Mistress of Konoha, Yuhi Kurenai. He took a step backward and let his hand hover near the pouch he kept flash bombs in.

"I'm about to lecture a child about misbehaving, but it appears he considers you the larger threat," Anko mused as she bit into another dango.

Naruto only saw the other kunoichi's actions out of the corner of his eye. He wanted to be anywhere but around Kurenai. Images of the genjutsu Fumi used on him flashed in his mind. He didn't trust himself to speak.

"What has he done wrong?" the Genjutsu Mistress questioned as she calmly walked over to the bench. Naruto moved farther away.

"Oh, the old geezer thinks I could help him. Have you two met? He looks like he can't decide if he wants to attack or run," Anko questioned.

Naruto kept both kunoichi in his sight as he eased himself into a stance ready to run. Hundreds of ideas crashed into the front of his mind, but he discarded them. "What do you want?" he finally asked at Anko but kept his eyes on Kurenai.

"To talk," the creepy woman stated with a reptilian smile.

"You attack me, twice, just to talk?" he asked, incredulous.

Kurenai frowned and turned from her inspection of him to look at Anko. "You attacked him?" she questioned, her voice a little frosty.

"He was asking for it," Anko shot back with a grin before she bit into a green ball on her dango stick.

"I doubt that," the red-eyed kunoichi shot back. "Why are you afraid of me? Have I done something to you?"

"You are the Genjutsu Mistress of Konoha, Yuhi Kurenai-sama," Naruto stated. He wasn't going to say anything more.

"I am," Kurenai stated as she crossed her arms under her chest. The red mesh sleeve of her blouse contrasted against the white bands of material that made up the rest of her outfit. Rose thorns, imprinted on the white bandage-like material, circled her body. Her red eyes and purple eye-shadow made her look almost demonic. "You didn't answer my question... student," she faltered. "You attacked a non-shinobi?" she hissed with a glance at Anko, who seemed to be enjoying the exchange.

"Eh, he'll be fine. Healed himself with a burst of chakra."

"What did you want?" Naruto asked with a glance at the annoying, spiky-haired, creepy-eyed woman. After further reflection, he realized both kunoichi were creepy-eyed women.

"To talk," Anko stated through a mouth full of sweets. "The old man said you might benefit from my experience."

"I'll pass," Naruto shot back and took a step toward the street. A wooden stick slammed into the earth beside his boot.

"You'll stay and listen."

"You can't attack me here."

"I can, and will. You aren't well-liked."

Naruto grunted, she had him there. Already he was the one getting the majority of the attention, not the kunoichi who threw skewers at children. "I'll just stay over here," he tempered. He could listen and ignore whatever she had to say. It was clear he couldn't escape this crazy woman. Better to play along, like he did with the old man.

"Do as you like," Anko said and moved over to the bench.

Kurenai seemed to struggle with something before taking a seat on the bench. Anko shrugged and sat beside her. Just as she put her full weight on the bench, a long, loud fart cut through the general clammer of the street. Everyone turned to look at the source of the disturbance. Anko, dango stick hovering right next to her mouth, narrowed her eyes at Naruto.

"Uh..." Kurenai said as she raised an eyebrow at the other woman.

Anko, for her part, sat back fully, as a half-strangled sound of flatulence accompanied her movement. "Think that was funny, do you?" she asked in a conversational voice.

Naruto couldn't hold back a laugh. "Yeah, kind of," he admitted. There was a reason he sat on the bench. He wanted her to sit beside him. Right where he left a balloon covered by a cloak he used with the Cloak of Invisibility Technique.

Kurenai's eyes flicked to him. "Why?" she asked. Her tone didn't sound hostile, just genuinely curious.

"She attacked me. I got her back, simple," Naruto answered with a shrug.

"This is amusing to you?"

"Well, I can't exactly beat her in a fair fight."

Anko gave him a thin-lipped smile. "Since you want to act like a child, I'll treat you like one," she said. "Come," she gestured toward her.

"Yeah, no, I'll stay here," Naruto shot back with a glance at Kurenai. The look didn't go unnoticed, causing both kunoichi to frown.

"Have it your way. I'll just have to shout," Anko smirked. "This is about the skidmarks in your underwear young man!" she all but roared.

Once again, the sound around the street stopped, and all eyes turned to Naruto. He saw faces of disgust. It took all his effort to ignore them, his anger building. Kabuto was right. This place would never see him as anything other than trash. He crossed his arms and glared back at Anko.

The pupil-less kunoichi frowned. "You're no fun. You were supposed to scream and deny it. Do you really have skidmarks in your underwear?" she challenged with a laugh.

Kurenai sighed and shook her head. "Anko, dear, you're a child. Naruto-san, just humor her and come closer. I promise not to attack you," she joked, but it sounded forced.

"Thank you, but no."

Anko and Kurenai exhanged looks. A serious expression appeared on Anko's face as she turned to look at Naruto. "Do you know how I am?" she asked. She spoke in a low voice, but Naruto could hear her just fine.

"Not a clue."

"My full name is Mitarashi Anko, does that name ring a bell?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes. Her family name sounded familiar. It took him a full minute to remember. "You were Sannin Orochimaru's only surviving apprentice," he answered.

Both kunoichis raised their eyebrows at his answer. "I didn't expect you to know," Anko admitted with a smirk. "Sannin? You respect that slime?"

Naruto shrugged and answered, "he's a missing-nin now. He has to be strong to be one."

"He took pleasure in torture, rape, and above all else the pursuit of power."

"So?" Naruto questioned, tired of the odd questions. "Just get to the point."

Kurenai started to say something but seemed to think better of it. She folded her hands in her lap and just stared at him. Anko eyed him as well. "We are both outcasts of this village," she said. Something in his expression must have given his thoughts away. "You'd think people would love to have someone as hot as me around the village," she joked.

Naruto wasn't thinking that at all. He was wondering how this kunoichi thought they were alike. "So?" he asked again.

Anko's smile slipped. "Listen, sorry I attacked you and all that," she dismissed with a wave of her hand. "I'm serious though. I want you to listen to what I have to say. Truly listen. You can't keep avoiding people in the village. You have, what, three friends in the whole Academy?"

"One," Naruto answered. "I've done perfectly fine so far in the village," he argued.

"No, you really haven't. Your pranks make you something of a curse around the village. If something goes wrong, your name is on everyone's lips. It isn't even your fault, everyone knows that, but you're still someone people blame."

Naruto waited to hear something he didn't already know. "Is this true?" Kurenai asked as she turned to Anko. "I don't really get out much."

The pupil-less kunoichi rolled her eyes. "You're so wrapped up in Azuma," she said.

Kurenai huffed and crossed her arms. "I am not."

Anko gave her companion a pitying look. "Anyway, you need to work on that," she said as she turned to Naruto.

"Why? Why should I care?"

"Because one day, someday soon, you'll be protecting them," she explained with a wave to the general populace around them. "You want to be a medical-nin. You realize you have to heal them, right? The people you hate?"

Naruto grunted. "I don't hate them," he stated in a flat tone.

"You hate them. I hated them too," Anko admitted. "This is my best friend, who helped me see what I'm trying to tell you. There are villagers, both shinobi and regular people, who are worth getting to know." Naruto remained silent. "You said you only have one friend, but is that true? What about the clan children? The Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka kids."

"What about them?"

"Why don't you see them as your friends?" Anko pressed.

Naruto shrugged to give her his answer. They didn't feel like friends to him. None of them had ever asked to be his friend. He just went to the Academy with them. One day, they might be his teammates, but that was a year away. Kurenai frowned and stared at him.

"Your answer is a shrug? Naruto-san, you do realize there is a good chance you'll be working with them soon. This is your last chance at graduation from the Academy. You don't really get another year after this one, unless things change. I know the old man talked to you about this already. Why aren't you trying to make friends?"

"I have a friend," Naruto argued.

"Kid, I haven't seen you with anyone outside of class. Let's ignore that issue for now. Why do you even want to be a shinobi?"

"What does that matter?"

Kurenai spoke with a soft voice, "because, Naruto-san, you are agreeing to protect a village, and its people, that... I'm not sure you entirely like. Do you understand why this might be concerning?"

"There are villagers I like. Teuchi-san and Ayame-san are two villagers. Iruka-sensei," he added a moment later. Anko and Kurenai seemed to wait for him to continue. "The Kazuki family," he added when it was clear they expected more. Kurenai seemed to stare a hole into him as if she could see into his mind.

"So a hand full of people, total? In the entire village?" Anko questioned. "To be fair, that's about three more people than I liked after getting booted out by Orochimaru. So, let me tell you a little story. You're going to stand there and listen because it needs to get through your thick skull. Do you understand?" she questioned.

Naruto eyed the two kunoichis and gave a jerk of his head for assent. Kurenai moved her hand, making him shift and reach into his pouch for the flash power. Just as he was about to move and throw, he realized everything around them stopped. "Genjutsu," he hissed.

"Yes, Anko's story is a personal tragedy. There is no reason for anyone but you to hear it. You are quite safe. To everyone around us, it will look like we're standing here. Well, Anko and I are sitting here while you glare at me."

The spiky-haired woman sat forward on the bench, her eyes focused on something behind Naruto. "I graduated from the Academy early," she started as her fist clenched. "I was a bright child, always trying to one-up a few boys in my class. At the time, I thought I was lucky to catch the eye of the village's greatest Sannin. Orochimaru called in a favor, and before I knew it, he was the Jonin Instructor and leader of our Genin Team. Sugita Hoitsu, Maeno Kaemon, and I all looked up to Orochimaru. When I was twelve, we entered the Chunin Exams. After hard fighting, we all passed."

Naruto watched as several expressions crossed the kunoichi's face before settling on something resembling hatred. "Not long after, Orochimaru started using us as research material. Oh, we went on missions, but the vast majority of the time, we were his research subjects. We knew he wanted power, we all did, but, I wasn't prepared to do what he was willing to do to get it. I learned a lot from the Sannin, more than most realize. However, I couldn't completely follow the madman. Orochimaru is an insane, power-hungry, and dangerous shinobi. Shortly after he expelled me from his little pet projects, for being too weak to fuel his desires, the village learned of his experiments. My ex-teammates went missing. They might be alive, but I doubt it. Orochimaru always ties up loose ends. Many in the village hated me, and some still do. I have fought and clawed my way to the ranks of Tokubetsu Jonin. What I specialize in, I won't tell you," she finished with a smirk.

Naruto processed her story and still couldn't figure out why she was telling it to him. He was an orphan the Fourth decided to stick a dangerous demon inside of. Maybe that's why? Dangerous and illegal experimentation. Outside of that, he couldn't see much in the way of similarities between them. Maybe the fact that villagers hated them both? "Okay," he said when it became clear Anko wanted to hear something from him.

"Okay, you say okay to all that? Okay, let me lay this out for your tiny brain," Anko growled. "You've got to get your head on your shoulders. If you want to graduate, you have to show people you can work with your teammates. You're actually in a worse position than I was. You do realize what they look for in genin, right?"

"Yes," Naruto grated out. "The ability to work together, listen to superiors, and a specific level of understanding and competency."

"Great, you know! Then why aren't you doing any of that? Today, you've failed two of those three basic requirements. You failed to listen to my direction, which, by the way, was an order for you to follow me. I am a legal shinobi of the village, authorized to order just about anyone in this village around, for any reason. You aren't working with your friends at the Academy. I watched them ask you if you wanted to go train with them after class. Granted, that Nara looked like the idea of training might kill him. They are always lazy," she grumbled. "As for competency... you're hiding your skills. If it weren't for your lack of understanding in the first two areas, you might actually have graduated already."

Naruto snorted. "I doubt that," he grumbled. It took him a moment to realize Kurenai ended the genjutsu. He eyed the red-eyed kunoichi, but she just stared back at him.

"This is why I hate kids," Anko huffed. "Listen, I've done my part. If you're too stupid to listen to what I've got to say, then so be it." She sat back on the bench and stared at Naruto.

"Am I free to go?" he asked.

Anko threw up her hands. "Fine, just go. We don't need snot-nosed brats anyway. Oh, here, have your senbon back," she growled and flicked her index and thumb finger.

Naruto had a split-second image of something metal flying at him. He shifted his weight and watched the silver streak fly by his hand and embed into the ground a foot behind him. "Anko!" Kurenai gasped.

"I knew he'd move," the kunoichi laughed. "Good reflexes, at least."

Naruto glared at the woman and took two steps back. He picked up the senbon, driven halfway into the ground, and slid it up his sleeve. With one last look at the two women, he flooded his feet with chakra and jumped onto the Dango Shop's roof.

"... did you think?" Anko asked her friend a few minutes later. It took Naruto longer than he'd liked to double back, disguised as a stooped villager.

"You really attacked him?" Kurenai sighed as her dark mess of hair shook back and forth. "I have no idea what to think. What are you even doing? Coaching an Academy Student is against the rules on so many levels."

"Eh, Orochimaru did it for me. No, I got asked to try and explain things he would understand. The old man is worried. As much as I hate some of the people here, I love this village. What did you see when he saw you?"

"Fear, naked terror," Kurenai answered without hesitation. Naruto winced and stooped over to adjust his sandles, or rather the illusioned sandles. "Something happened, and somehow he thinks I'm responsible. I've never met him personally. I know about him, but I don't think we've ever come face to face."

"You still go to the festival?" Anko asked.

"With Azuma," Kurenai admitted. "I can't imagine that would be easy for the boy. That still doesn't explain it."

Anko sighed and shifted, pulling the cloak Naruto used to become invisible out from under her. "The child kept up the illusion, well after he moved away from the bench. That shows planning, even when surprised. He could be a dangerous shinobi, especially if his senses are that acute," she mused.

"I was surprised he dodged your attack," Kurenai admitted. "I almost didn't see it coming."

"It wouldn't have hit him. If anything, he might have dodged into the senbon's path. No, he recognized the danger twice and acted to the best of his ability. I'll bet only a handful of students at the Academy, kami, even as a genin, might be able to do the same thing he did."

"What are you going to report?"

Anko sighed and stared up into the trees. "The unvarnished truth. The village can't have a loose cannon. Well, another loose cannon. The Uchiha has a similar psychological profile as Naruto-san does," she answered after a moment. "It might be better if both of them fail. The Anbu are perfect for broken tools."

Naruto ghosted backward and disappeared into the crowd. He'd never heard of what happened to students who failed their last year at the Academy. It was always hinted that the students simply got jobs within the village.