NEW CHAPTER 5! NEW CHAPTER 5!

Yes, I come back for 2021 bearing gifts. A new chapter 5 that shall help me a little bit regarding relationships in the future, not just romance, but friendships and teasing at future events.

So please, enjoy.

I'M GREATLY INSPIRED BY 'COMMON SENSE' BY STONE ELBOW AND 'BETTER LEFT UNSAID' BY KENCHI618, SO PLEASE CHECK THEM OUT!

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO... WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Naruto woke up at the sound of his alarm going off. It was times like these when he hated being a part of the academy. Even after passing the Gennin exam, something that was easy despite is horrendous Chakra control. It was thanks to the effort of his best friend, which was more like a twin brother at this point for him, who had constantly trained him in preparing for these exams.

However, currently he had six days, three hours and twenty two minutes until he would be partnered into a team with a Jounin acting as the team leader, and teacher. He only hoped he would get a good team, and a good teacher that would actually teach him stuff rather than flat out ignore him, or worse as seen with his old teacher, Mizuki. The blue haired bastard always took too much pleasure in 'educating' him, much like a closeted sadist.

It was only thanks to Gramps' efforts that Mizuki was taken out of the academy. Once Sasuke had seen this, he dragged Naruto kicking and screaming and demanded to have a meeting with the Hokage. Honestly, at times his friend was scary. He, a nine year old boy, was throwing his weight around for his friend, and Naruto knew that was just the beginning. Oh boy, when he got older...He was going to have to get permission to speak with his wife, if he ever got one...

Something that made his cheeks turn hot, and his whole face flush red. Ew, a wife, he thought. Why would he like girls, they were smart, beautiful, funny- Wait no, that's not how it was supposed to go! He was supposed to stay single until he became Hokage, and then he would get a beautiful wife, and have a big family that he would care about. And he wasn't going to transfer the Kyuubi into one of them, no, what was he, stupid?

While he loved his father dearly, the Yondaime had sacrificed everything for his son. For a dream that Naruto wanted to accomplish, no doubt about it, however it was tough for the Hokage-to-be. While most of the civilians had warmed up to the boy, some still resented him, however they were quickly shut down when Kakashi butted in. Kakashi was another person he was close with, the Jounin was always nearby and helped Naruto with training when it was needed.

Along with practicing his Taijutsu with him, he also went over the basics of Ninjutsu with him and Sasuke, with both of them writing tons of notes that totalled to more than a few note pads. Plus, Kakashi was cool. On the off days, Naruto had tried to replicate his older friends look, face mask and everything much to his amusement. He always ruffled his hair and said something about "Please don't come back from the grave and kill me," something that he found very weird.

Kakashi was one of the strongest people he knew, and while that was a small number, Kakashi could probably be Hokage in a few years. Not that he would let him of course, the Godaime Hokage was meant for one person only. Uzumaki Naruto! And he wasn't going to let the freak reading porn on the street beat him, no matter how much he liked and respected the guy.

Looking at the broken clock, it had only been five minutes since he had awoken. No doubt Sasuke would be dropping by soon, probably checking to see of his friend was alive and well. Naruto yawned, as as got up from his bed and stretched some of his muscles. It was good practise to do so, and warmed him up for the day as he walked to his kitchen. As always, his book open from the late night reading.

It was on a page about some super cool Jutsu, a spinning ball or something. It looked really hard, and he didn't understand much of what was going on from what he remembered. But that was most likely due to him being very tired and hungry last night, and not that he wasn't academically smart. Well, he wasn't a genius like Sasuke, but he wasn't exactly the bottom of the class either.

Iruka-sensei had kept to his deal even many years later, and Naruto consistently scored between seventy percent and low eighty's, something that he was proud of. However, even though he sometimes wanted to show off in class, he held off from doing so. It was dangerous, his dad had accumulated many enemies that were far greater than he could handle, much less the Hokage who was old at this point, way past his glory days of a fighter.

And if they worked together? No doubt about it, Konohagakure would fall.

It was small domino effects that hurt his brain, always thinking about the potential consequences of his actions. Gramps and Kakashi had both tried their best to ease his mind off it, saying for him to "Stop worrying about the future, and live a little," however that did nothing to alleviate his predicament. The world was out to get him and his friends, and he did not know who would come for him and when.

He had tried asking them about his father's enemies, and both said the main one was Iwagakure, the Village hidden in the Stone. A formidable opponent, with their Kage being as old is gramps, probably with the same amount of experience. Not that he couldn't see where they were coming from, his dad did kinda kill a whole brigade of theirs during the last war. Alone.

No matter how cool it was for Naruto, others did not simply see it that way.

A little sad yes, however understandable. While he was seen as a hero and revered in Konohagakure, in Iwagakure those his age were probably taught to loathe him, to the highest extremes. Ha, loathe.

Over the past few years, he also learned many new words coming from an unwilling 'ally', the Kyuubi. Often using colourful and advanced language to describe those he wanted to kill, the Uchiha being the main one, he had somewhat rubbed off Naruto, who constantly badgered him to teach him new words. After all, from what he gathered from his book, his dad spoke of very technical language and seemed to know it all.

And while Naruto did not know everything, if he seemed like he knew it, he would be just like his father. No, he would be even greater and then no one would be able to look down on him, not appreciate him ever again.

It was also hilarious to see Sasuke's reactions to when he said such words in a simple sentence.

It had been a few hours, and after breakfast he left his apartment. After of course locking it up, it wouldn't be good if someone found his book while snooping around, his second but equally important secret could very well break the world. He knew that his existence was very hush, it was a S class secret after all and enforced by the law, something that would lead to very, very, very bad consequences if one was to break it.

However if that, and the fact that Namikaze Minato's son was live and the wilder of the Kyuubi, certain villages like Kumogakure or even Sunagakure would look at them differently, perhaps even tear apart any previous treaties or agreements and joining up with Iwagakure for economic or military reasons. A three on one situation, with Kirigakure not able to provide support.

And with other minor villages wanting to join the fray, to stick it to one of the big fry's in the world, Naruto once again gulped. He was in a sticky situation, one that he had no clue on how to traverse across. His thoughts were interrupted as a hand tapped him on his shoulder, a light one at that. He turned around and was greeted by a smiling Hinata, as always wearing her oversized coat.

"Hey N-Naruto," She said, trying not to stutter. To be fair to her, she had come a long way from years ago where she was stuttering all the time, something that Naruto felt bad about. Now she barely stuttered, and if she did it was because she had started the conversation. Naruto gave a bright smile back as he waved at her, "Hey Hinata," He responded.

He liked the Hyuga, she was a good friend. Always listening and giving out good advice, plus she always defended him if someone tried to call him out. Right before Sasuke came in and fought for the 'Future Hokage's Honour' instead. "So, what are you doing at this time?" She asked looking up at him. He wasn't much taller than her, only by a few centimetres.

"Uhm, nothing just walking about." Naruto answered truthfully. "What about you?" He asked. She smiled brightly at that question, telling him all about how he was getting more plants for her garden back at the compound. "Hey uhh- DO you mind if I come?" Naruto hesitantly asked, while they were friends, it did not mean she had to spend time with him, after all she was the Hyuga Heiress.

Despite his thoughts, Hinata nodded her head violently, so much so that Naruto was surprised her head didn't just fall on the floor and roll around for a while. He followed her as they arrived at her destination, a shop with flowers at the front and a bright sign that read 'YAMANAKA FLOWERS', something that made him smile a little. This shop was one of the best when it came to flowers from what he had heard, not that he had shopped for flowers in the first place.

It was run by their friend, Ino. Well, it was run by her family, or more accurate, her mother. Hinata opened the shop, and Naruto followed closely behind. Inside were rows and rows of different plants, names and prices attached below them. If he wasn't into flowers and had a special someone, it would have been a good shop to visit, something that he stored in his mind for later use.

He followed the Hyuga as she went up to the counter and waved at Ino, who had her legs up on the table and was leaning back on her chair while reading a gossip magazine. Glancing format, she took a look at both of them and her eyes widened. "Hinata and...Naruto? Wait, are you two a thing?" Hinata flushed red in embarrassment, and Naruto tried to rack his brain on what she meant by a thing- Oh.

"No, no- It's- It's not what you think Ino!" Naruto quickly said, shaking his head. "We- We aren't a thing, are we Hinata?" He asked the poor girl, who nodded her head in confusion. "Wait- Is that a yes or a no? We aren't dating. Yucky, no dating until I'm Hokage." Naruto protested, as he watched a sly smirk come on Ino's face. "So you aren't a thing yet..."

Hinata nearly fainted at this point, and was doing her best not to embarrass herself. Naruto tried to change the conversation, but was having no luck. "Come on," The blonde haired girl said. "You can tell me, I'm all ears." She said. Naruto hotly replied "Wouldn't you like to know. Wait- That's it, the only reason you are acting like this is because you like either Hinata or me! I caught you!" He finally said.

This time, it was Ino's turn to turn red as she sputtered "What- No, I mean- As if i'd ever like you, Baka." She said as she stood up and tried to hit the blonde boy on the head. "Come here, I'll show you what it means to mess with me idiot! You will rue the day you tried to get one over me. Rue!" She screamed madly as she chased him throughout her parents shop.

Naruto sighed, after being hunted viciously by Ino for a few minutes, Hinata eventually got her order. Some red rose, or something like that which came from Kuso. The blonde boy eventually split off from her when he saw Sasuke roaming around town, promising to meet up with her later. Naruto grinned as he went up to his friend and poked him on the back. Hard.

Sasuke turned around, reaching for his Kunai as he was met with his friend rolling around on the floor, dying of laughter. "Oh...Kami! You...You should have seen your face!" Naruto said in-between laughs, causing Sasuke to scowl. "It isn't funny, you sneaking up on me means that my awareness of the environment is lacking. This means we have to do more training on that."

Naruto groaned loudly. Training? All he ever thinks about is training, Naruto thought to himself as he patted Sasuke on the back. "Or- How about we do something fun today?" Naruto asked his friend enthusiastically, hoping that it might sway his friend. Sasuke nodded as he replied "Well I suppose, we can spare a day of training for some fun. So, what's the plan?" The Uchiha asked.

The blonde boy smirked as he led his friend to the only place he could, a place that even made Sasuke grin. Ichiraku's Ramen. A common meeting place for them, to discuss training, plans for the future, cool new Jutsu etc. All the more popular when Teuchi, the owner, sometimes joined in while his daughter, Ayame helped out with the food which was as always, food from the God's.

Naruto and Sasuke ordered the usual from the menus, as they discussed what teams would be the best in their class. "Naturally Naruto, me and you should be on a team. Not only do I know and trust you well enough, but we have worked together for so long we could probably do some combination Jutsu's, like your wind strengthening my fire. You get me?" Sasuke said as he finished his second bowl.

Naruto nodded as he added "Yeah, it will make like a super, big fireball that will even blow away Kakashi!" Sasuke nodded as he replied "Yeah, and maybe we can do missions with him, we can use his lightning with water, or something like that." It was going well, and Kakashi even told them that it wouldn't work- Kakashi? Naruto turned around as he saw the Jounin sit next to him, amused as to what they were discussing.

"Water and lightning wouldn't work, however Naruto's wind might help with the water. Or if not, just pushing it further." The older man said. Naruto asked him "How long have you been here?" And the man replied instantly "Since before you were born, both of you, even with your ages combined." Sasuke rolled his eyes as he asked Kakashi what he thought was a good Jutsu to learn for him.

"Well, I wouldn't know. Seems like you will have to ask your Jounin or Chunnin leader, if you get one that is." He said, despite Sasuke's protests. "Please, can you help us. It's important- Wait, d you know who our new sensei is going to be?" Sasuke asked. Kakashi seemingly smiled underneath his mask as he nodded. "Can you tell us?" Naruto said, and the man shook his head.

Sasuke glared at him, promising to give him a slow painful death as Kakashi stared at him. He ruffled the Uchiha's hair as he replied "You can go do that, just don't wait until my hair turns white." Sasuke smacked his hand away as he angrily responded "But your hair is white!"

Kakashi waved at them as he replied "No actually, it's silver."

Sasuke ran after him, seemingly to curse at him and challenge him to a fight, something that he always did. Naruto grinned as he paid for the meal, only after thanking Teuchi and Ayame for always providing the best experience on Konoha. It was nearly night time as he walked home, catching a conversation between two men outside a closed store.

"Hm, the girl I bought this from must have been given it after the last owner's death. Her father I think, well it was a general store. However, you will be pleased to know that her father did not die in the store, so it is not cursed if that's what you are worried about." One of the men said, but Naruto skipped past it. It sounded like a boring conversation, something he did not want to get involved in. Grown up stuff.

He was lucky that gramps personally visited each month to give him his money, and that Sasuke and Kakashi both helped him save and make sure that he was eating well and was keeping clean. After all, eating on nothing but ramen for a month and showering every so often was not the best way to live, and Naruto had to agree. Eating other food was nice, not as good as ramen but good enough.

And keeping clean?

It was a luxury he didn't have before, but now he couldn't live without it. Eventually he arrived home and opened the door to his apartment, his book was exactly where he had left it and his sink filled with the bowl he had cereal from this morning. Plus his fridge was open- Wait, did he leave his fridge open? Naruto panicked as he opened his fridge and saw that a lot of his foods were not as fresh as they once were, no doubt due to this blunder.

He sighed as he closed the fridge and went to sleep, he would deal with it tomorrow

Pretty filler chapter, however I think that it is important to deal with his friends. They are his friends, and they will get closer when some of them disappear permanently.

While Naruto is learning from his dad, it doesn't make him more powerful yet. Just more confident in his abilities, and more confidence can lead to some bad matchups. Something he eventually has to learn from.

While words from his father are good for him, it doesn't make him into the strongest. And it won't!

Thanks for reading, Papaireaz :)