A.N: I now own less than I started with, which is still nothing, by the way.
Chapter 4 - I ended up rewriting this and editing it a lot until I was happy with it. I don't think everyone will be though.
Read to find out. Or don't. Up to you. :)
Chapter 4: The life of a Genin
With newfound energy, he decided to keep at his studies. Kakashi might believe that he may not be the dead last. Well, he'll prove it to him without a shadow of a doubt. Determination practically radiating from his being he sat down and studied. This was only the beginning -dattebayo!
Monday
Naruto had pulled an all-nighter studying up on what he never learned. Everything made so much more sense now. Almost kicking himself for his stupidity. He blitzed through the chakra concepts; they were for 1st years after all.
He was going to skip straight on to year 4 stuff when he was told to keep at the first-year material. After all, he never knew what lessons and knowledge he had skipped out on. Plus, old him had said, everything builds on from this. So he kept reading. He had read through almost the entire first-year curriculum and most importantly; had actually understood it. All of it.
It was an accomplishment for Naruto that many wouldn't even classify as one. He had sat still and studied for well over 6 hours. In one night. Just a week ago he would have considered it impossible. He was sure his academy instructors would have said the same thing.
"As I said, my chakra is causing yours to become more balanced. You are calmer now because your chakra is."
He was right. He could think much more clearly now. Mind not racing a mile a minute. He wasn't spacing out every 5 minutes. It felt good. Felt like improvement.
When Kakashi had stopped by yesterday with his pay he had never told Naruto a time or place to meet. He couldn't recall him telling any of them when they were at the assignment desk yesterday. He had thought it was another test so appeared at training ground 7 at 5 am. He was alone. Rather certain that this was the meeting spot he decided to sit down by the tree that he had claimed as his own.
His alarm clock was working fine, it turned out. It was never an hour slow. Naruto had lost the time whilst he was in a deep connection with his chakra. Something he had learned of in his books yesterday. It was mentioned briefly as a concept. Meditation. He had actually laughed at the concept of him meditating. Whereas his future self had said how much he had done it in his later years and how much he had benefited from it.
As he sat down, he was talked through it. Being apprehensive he was told that it could only help him. Deciding it couldn't hurt, he was willing to try.
"Calm your thoughts by first focusing on your breathing. Only on your breathing, in through your nose, and out through your mouth. Good. Do this and when any thought comes to you just re-focus on your breathing. Make it so that you slow the beating of your heart, this will slow the beat of your chakra."
'Beat of my chakra? What does that- '
"Only focus on your breathing."The reminder was soothing. The voice calming.
Once Naruto had been doing this successfully for over 10 minutes, only then was he given different directions.
"Relax your face, your arms, and your back – sink into the tree like it was the most comfortable bed in the world. You are safe, just relax. But breathe, never forget to breathe. Relax your legs and your hips, breathe in and out. Slower. Keep your eyes closed. Good now, can you feel the flow of your chakra?"
Almost in a trance-like state, he had a look of calm serenity plastered over his face. His chakra was almost as still as he was. By just breathing he had calmed his chakra. It was a storm before but now, now it was a powerful current flowing through him. Trying to curb his enthusiasm, to keep his current state of mind he refocused on his breathing. He was a little surprised when he was told to open his eyes.
Sakura and Sasuke were approaching his location. It was lighter out now. 'How long do you think I've been like this for?' he received no response. Getting up from his relaxed position he noted the stiffness in his limbs. Must have been down for at least an hour. He had never felt so at peace with himself. His chakra felt lighter as did his mind. Clarity, it was a foreign concept for Naruto.
He stood when team 7 greeted each other. And by greeting he meant a 'Hn' from Sasuke and a tired wave from Sakura. They were going to be training today. As he was standing up, he started going through all the stretches he knew of, which didn't take that long. Not knowing that many stretches, he was as limber as he could be considering.
They all waited for Kakashi to show. After 10 minutes Naruto began to pace around. Half an hour later he was agitated so much he could feel his chakra get worked back up to its natural chaotic state. 'Chakra beat. That's what he called it. The beat of my chakra can be controlled with the beat of my heart.' It wasn't that farfetched a conclusion considering how calm he and his chakra had been before the other two arrived.
Thinking he could do so again he sat in his now customary spot by the tree, away from the other two and tried to relax his body. After 10 minutes of trying, he gave up. It felt impossible without being talked through it; with his teammates here now he didn't know if he would have been able to anyway. All he could hear was Sakura having a loud one-sided conversation with Sasuke about their sensei, complaining to the Uchiha about both him and their sensei. He hadn't even done anything!
"You were just as loud not even a week ago." It was stated matter-of-factly.
'Where the hell have you been?' Still not receiving any reply made him almost growl out. Time passed slowly for the young Uzumaki. Minutes turned into hours. As he was just beginning to feel like pulling some form of revenge against his sensei the man showed up. His appearance came at the right time to stop Naruto from any retribution, but his anger would not be tamed. He was about to give his sensei a piece of his mind.
"No."
'What do you mean no?' He was pissed.
"Speak with him after. Exploding in his face now will lose what progress you have made with him. Patience." Naruto didn't think he had any more patience left in him.
'Argh. Fine.' Taking calming breaths, he strode up to the man with the rest of his team. A thinly veiled scowl on the surface of his features remained. It became a full-on scowl when he realized that he wasn't going to be learning any Jutsu today, instead doing team-building exercises.
"Stop complaining you petulant child! I told you that you had to look beneath everything. You take it at face value. No one else is as upset as you are. Calm yourself down. Now." It came out harsh but old him needed to say it. He was keeping the Kyuubi's chakra from leaking out as best as he could…
Being yelled at by, who was for all intents and purposes, himself just made his anger worse.
"Do you have a problem Naruto?" The bored tone of his sensei certainly didn't help matters.
"Yes, I have a problem." Barely managing a shout. "I'm guessing you told these two where and when to meet you considering they showed up at the same time. Did you ever plan on telling me?! I thought this was another test. I've been here since 5 for kami's sake. It's nearing noon." The words had rolled off his tongue quicker than he could return them; they came out like a hiss with him not being able to relax his jaw from clenching with every word. Venting it out loud didn't alleviate his anger.
There was a look in his sensei's eye. It was cold, hard.
"Firstly. If I had not given you a time you could have gone to one of your teammates and asked them. While I'm sorry it had slipped my mind, I have other duties aside from you. And if you ever take that tone with me again I will have your rank and Hitai-ate stripped from you. Do I make myself clear; genin?"
The sheer stupidity of his younger self was a skill in itself. Future Naruto shook his head within the seal.
"Now this goes for all of you. If I am late, you do not question me as to why. Use the time productively. I do not have to disclose my actions to you. Naruto - go home." Tone and posture cold. He had meant every word. Naruto was visibly shaking in place. Fists clenching so hard that he had started to draw blood. His fingernails had started to sharpen into claws.
Future Naruto was working double-time to keep the Kyuubi's chakra from entering his system. "I said leave genin. You have forfeited the right to train with us today."
Kakashi was rather strict to Naruto, but he had been a ninja of Konoha for over 20 years. He wasn't going to take being talked to like that by anyone other than his Kage. Naruto was most definitely not his Kage. His glare was fierce and mood foul. But he was a shinobi. He regained his composure and was quickly back to his usual demeanor.
The other two genin were shocked seeing that side of Kakashi. Both not thinking he would talk in that manner based on what they had assumed about their sensei. They thought he was lazy and laidback. Plus, Naruto always got in trouble – it was only a matter of time. One day apparently. That's how long he was serious about being a shinobi.
In all the time at the academy, no one had caused the always upbeat Naruto to look so furious. Both Sasuke and Sakura thought Naruto was going to attack their sensei. He was certainly stupid enough to try!
Naruto had stormed off with a deep scowl marring his face. Looking quite intimidating to the civilians he passed. His unique whisker markings had thickened slightly and stretched further along his face. Chakra was rolling off his frame in waves. Fortunately, it wasn't red, otherwise people would be running away.
Kakashi had planned for a three-man team-building exercise but without the third man, that was thrown out the window. Individual assessments it was then. Advice for improvements and some physical conditioning he had decided.
'That boy has many issues but first and foremost he needs to learn his place. Minato's son or not. That behavior is unacceptable. This is a job where people need to trust you to have their backs. And you theirs. Lives depend on it.' He would be taking this to the Hokage when they were done for the day.
A silent sigh escaped Kakashi's lips once his better-behaved students were doing their physical exercises. This was why he didn't want to teach a bunch of brats. They were brats. He didn't know how to deal with them. He had been a ninja since he was 5.
"You imbecilic FOOL! You have set yourself back months! You may never come back from this in Kakashi's eyes. I told you to listen to me, did I not?"
"I don't care." He was still angry, his response may have been petulant, but he really didn't care right now.
"You should care. Other than the Hokage, he's the most influential shinobi in the entire village."
The color drained from Naruto's face immediately. He could see how that might be a problem…
"When I tell you to do something you had damn well do it to the letter!" Old him was more pissed than Kakashi. "Get your ass back to your apartment right now. Run. I said run!"
Setting some kind of personal record, he made it back to his apartment. As soon as his apartment door was locked, he was brought straight into the seal without any warning. Falling flat on his ass. He didn't need to find his older self as he came at him like a great force of nature. "I've changed my mind about you." The tone used scared young Naruto.
The power he felt when he first met his counterpart was back. It wasn't the burning anger that he had just been experiencing, it was cold and contained. And he had only one target; him.
"I can do better… please. I'll do whatever it takes, I-I-Iii-" His words had failed him. Realizing that he had made a huge mistake and genuinely starting to fear for his life. He still didn't know how to escape this seal, and the monster in front of him looked so terribly angry.
He was grabbed harshly around the shoulders; the old man's fingers were digging in so roughly! Looking at his wrinkled hands they were passing through his skin sinking into him. Panic like he had never felt before almost consumed Naruto.
He had no idea what was happening, the old man's eyes locked him in place with just his gaze. No longer the same shade of blue. Darker, like the depths of the sea. He felt an evil permeate the air. That heaviness that was in the caged room magnified by 10 and quickly brought him to his knees, gasping for air. He felt like he was suffocating, drowning.
His chakra was on fire. He could feel the old man's chakra smother his own. Snuffing out his own chakra. The non-water-gas-substance-thingy that permeated throughout the seal was filling up the room. Reaching up to his waist now that he was on his knees. There was nothing he could do. He was too weak, thinking quickly he tried calling out for help from the only other entity in the seal.
"Oi fox! It's time for you to pay some damn rent!" The panic gave his voice a higher pitch than he was used to. "AaaargggGGHHH!" His pain was indescribable. receiving no response from the furry asshole.
The process wasn't quick. It was excruciating - as if every cell was cut open, not a single part of Naruto was numb to the pain he was experiencing. Even his eyes hurt when he opened them to look at the thing before him. Was this really who he'd become? Was it even real? He couldn't imagine himself-
Oh no. A sudden thought came to him that filled him with dread.
Was 'future him' the Kyuubi?! Had he been tricked all this time? It had been just over a week since he learned of the furry bastard stuck in his stomach, was this really the end of him? There was so much he hadn't done yet. He hadn't kissed Sakura or punched Sasuke into the dirt. He hadn't even started his journey to becoming Hokage!
Thoughts became less frequent as the pain was overriding every other sense. Flashes of a past life flew in his vision. Or of a potential future. Comprehension dawned on his face as the pain faded away. He had never intended to train him. He always intended to take over his body.
He was a fool; he was training him to distract from the fact that the Kyuubi's chakra was being moved back into the bijuu. He had planned for him to be ready to swap with when he entered the forest of death in the upcoming Chunin exams. The more similar their chakra's, the easier the takeover would be. He would have had the whole month to do it without anyone realizing anything.
Anger and greed and so much determination to re-live his own life. He knew he was going to be erased. That was clear now. This monster in front of him was a product of Konoha's deceit, he wanted to be remade. The hottest flames forged the strongest steel. He wanted to be reborn in battle and death.
He could feel his time was short. The pain had stopped now just a numbness remained. He wanted to remember all the good times he'd had. Imprint them somehow on his older self. Remember them.
'Remember THEM! Not everyone deserves death. We can be better than them!' Desperation to be heard.
"We always were. That is why they kept us chained."
What hope he had just died with those words. He had nothing else to say to that. What could he say? He knew he had lost this battle. One that would cost him everything he knew and loved. He couldn't even protect himself.
"Don't cry now. This isn't a takeover. It's a merge. Parts of you will always remain. Resurface like a memory. Find the peace that I never could, you deserve it. We will balance each other out. Your light with my darkness." The smile he received felt so genuine. Old Naruto had his eyes back to the original shade of blue. The pressure was gone.
Balance. He could live with that after seeing glimpses of what he had lived through.
'Just focus on my breathing. Inhale. Exhale.'
Eyes shut with fat tear streaks down his face. Acceptance was not what future Naruto would have anticipated. It made what he had to do to himself just that much more difficult. It didn't change what needed to be done, what was inevitable.
Both hands were now so deep they had reached into his younger's chakra core. He pulled his hands apart and the body of Naruto was ripped in two. There was no blood, no cry of pain. His chakra merely hovered in the air where the boy had been kneeling not a moment ago. It was quickly absorbed into the only Naruto left standing.
Like when he first appeared to Naruto, his chakra was surrounding his figure creating a glowing blue silhouette. When the glow faded away his appearance was that of the younger Naruto who had just been; well consumed - for lack of a better word.
The world was never going to be big enough for two of them.
Raising himself from his crumpled position in the middle of his entryway, he took stock of his body. He went to the mirror in his bathroom. It was the body of his youth.
"Finally," his voice sounded strange coming from his mouth even after hearing his younger self speak. It was an odd sensation as his internal voice was that of his past self.
That had taken a good hour to take over Naruto's chakra network. Their chakra was different, so he had to meet the boy halfway to have any hope of achieving dominance. and had to call on the Kyuubi's chakra to match what he was putting out. It was a delicate balance.
"Or is that my future self?" Either way, it was confusing. He was back in the past.
It had been a long time that he hadn't felt pain in his body "Oh, the vigor's of my youth. Power will come easily enough. I know how to perform Senjutsu, just need to practice again. That will be more difficult now that I took over earlier than expected." He was speaking to himself. Speaking out loud was a habit of the younger Naruto, he had to talk to someone even if it was himself.
"Ok, he had really screwed the pooch with Kakashi. Or had I? Oh, this is going to take some adjustment." Quickly coming up with a plan he took ahold of his chakra and calmed it as best as he could. It would seem he would be taking a page from his younger self's book. His own book? Urgh.
Once sufficiently calmed in mind and chakra he marched to the third's office, ignoring the secretary he kicked open the doors. The old man had company, oh well. This needed to be done sooner rather than later. 'No time like the present' he mentally smiled at his own little joke.
"We need to talk old man." Eyes steeled at the aged monkey. Voice as flat as he could manage.
"Get out of my office Naruto, I –" he could see from the boys' eyes that this was no prank, but he was busy with someone.
"How many more secrets are you keeping from me?" He interrupted. "Were you ever even going to tell me this one? How many times did I ask you if you knew, huh? Yeah, that's right. I'm glad you at least look like you regret – "
"Everyone except Naruto, leave. Now!" Once his guest and the ANBU had left the third went through dozens of hand-seals and a barrier spread throughout the room. "Who told you?" He was already feeling tired; he had hoped he could put this topic off for as long as possible. Preferably when he was dead.
"My father told me." Simple. To the point. No need to mince words.
"Your father is dead Naruto. I'm sorry to say that, but he is." Without knowing who he thought his father was the third wasn't going to reveal anything by accident.
"He left a small part of his chakra in the seal. Came to me and told me everything. He believed I was this 'Child of prophecy' and placed the Kyuubi in me so that I could defend myself. Asked how Jiraiya and Kakashi were. If I had any friends." This was getting to the old man. Now to twist the knife.
"And who the hell is Jiraiya? Apparently, he's my godfather, whatever that even means!"
The third sank further into his seat and looked about ready to retire again. He had made many mistakes regarding Naruto, he knew that. But by keeping him in the dark he was always trying to undo the damage, but life always got in the way. Hizashi and the entire Cloud fiasco that came with it. The Uchiha and their coup. Then just general duties that always seemed to rise higher and higher, never diminishing.
He should have been retired for well over a decade by now, but the Kyuubi's attack had royally screwed the village over. Minato's death had hit the village hard. They had never recovered, not fully.
Naruto's childhood was a result of these events. It was never malicious intent - just something he had categorized as something to make up to the boy. It was as if Hiruzen had personal debts to Naruto, none of which had been paid.
Taking time to compose his thoughts. 'Perhaps…. Hm, maybe…'
"If you really did speak with him, did he care to mention what had happened on the night of your birth?"
"Yes. I'll tell you but I want some things." Naruto demanded.
"Are you blackmailing me?" The incredulity outweighed any potential anger he may have felt. Amusement shined in his eyes; it had been a long time indeed that anyone had tried that tactic with him. They didn't tend to live for very long afterward.
Luckily for Naruto, he held a special place in the old monkey's heart.
"You have what I want. I Have what you want." He wasn't going to budge on this. He needed this conversation to happen.
Staring ensued between the new generation and the old. His wife's death had been tragic, finding out about it only after they were cleaning up the aftermath of Kyuubi's release. His last conversation with her had been an argument. His work was the only comfort he found to dull the hole left in his heart. Thinking he knew what the boy wanted he addressed the elephant in the room.
"I'm not going to announce –"
"I don't want you to. I already have one massive shadow hovering over me. I don't need another." Just because he knew didn't mean the entire village had to know. His personal life wasn't going to be open to the public anymore.
"Then what? I'm not giving you my position…" He let his humor shine out in his eyes to try and lighten the boy's glare. He hadn't activated the Kyuubi's chakra yet and now would really not be a good time to do so. His anger was on the surface, but he couldn't foresee any other outbursts to come.
"I want my inheritance. I'm sick of having to worry about rationing my food so I can still pay rent. The fact that I never should have even been living on my own angers me enough as it is." He huffed. Anger fading out. Both occupants in the room were now conversing amicably.
"I have conditions. These are not negotiable. You are confined to your apartment for a whole week. I'll visit you. Your conduct is unacceptable, so you will be suspended for the week."
"My conduct? What about yours?!" He hadn't planned on that.
"I'm the Hokage and my word is law." The finality of his tone was enough for Naruto to cease his grumbling. More silence between the two of them. The third had gotten his pipe out from his desk and filled it with some tobacco. The green kind.
The third remembered when he took Kakashi to see Naruto's apartment in the week between team assignments when the boy wasn't there. It was a pigsty; the milk was off, and clothes were everywhere. He decided to light his pipe regardless of Naruto still being in the room.
"Naruto, you can't make demands of your Hokage. You just can't. And I can't not punish you for it." Gently puffing on his pipe had already calmed him down. The boy looked so dejected it tugged at his heartstrings.
Naruto decided to sit down. A deep sigh escaped his lips. "He said he had fought an Uchiha with a menejeko Sharingan? He released the Kyuubi from my mother. He killed all the guards and doctors. He said he believed the man to be Madara Uchiha." He let the old man soak up that knowledge, staying as quiet as a mouse. Knowingly mispronouncing the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"It was his idea you know. To demand my inheritance from you. Called you an old monkey, hehehe. That doesn't mean I wasn't angry or hurt."
"Naruto, I have never meant for you to get hurt. Believe me when I say that. This information will only hurt you. Are you sure you still want to know?" Getting a nod, the old man sighed wearily. He rubbed his face with his hands.
"I never gave you your inheritance because there was nothing to give you. Their home was destroyed in the Kyuubi's attack along with any possessions. I'm truly sorry my boy."
And he could see that he was. No money, no home, no techniques, and no closure.
"So, what you are telling me is that I'm basically village royalty with nothing to show for it. That I'm suspended for a week for being angry at you for keeping it from me. And that I am confined to my apartment for a week." He listed all these off on his fingers as he went on. Secretly enjoying every wince from the old man.
"Well. At least you got what you wanted old man. I'll be in my apartment if you need me." He gave the third one last disappointed look before exiting his office through his window.
Sliding down the tower with his feet and hands he pushed off the building when he neared the bottom, performing a well-timed roll to avoid any damage, his momentum carrying him into a run. Going with the momentum he ran back to his apartment.
Hoping that the old adage was actually wrong for once. That two wrongs can indeed make a right. By using an outburst at the Hokage he could hopefully fix Kakashi's problem with him by guilt-tripping both parties. 'Kakashi would have to go to the Hokage about his outburst. He would speak with the third in confidence and realize that I was angry at having been lied to. Hopefully, my actions will be overlooked or swept under the rug.
On the plus side, this gives me a week to study and meditate. If I'm right, I'll be visited by both the old monkey and the dog, and the situation will resolve itself. If not, other avenues can always be used. I didn't come back to perform a re-run after all.'
He began where his younger counterpart had left off from. Year 1 studies weren't completed yet. And he knew that his foundations had been built with straw. This was going to be fun.
The next chapter will be a bit of a longer wait. I've only written up to chap 6 draft-wise. i want to try and get 4 chaps ahead of myself before I post more.
Thanks for reading