Welcome to my first Naruto fanfiction! Hope y'all enjoy it.
I am not making any profit from this, I am writing this merely for enjoyment.
I do not own any of these characters, they are the creation of Masashi Kishimoto.
If y'all got any questions, feel free to leave a review.
Enjoy!
A certain blonde-haired twelve year old strolled through the streets, twirling a kunai in his fingers. This individual was a certain Naruto Namikaze Uzumaki, who was going to graduate the Academy. All the Konoha villagers leered and glared at him, but Naruto couldn't care less. He was far used to his loneliness and the feeling of hatred others gave him by now. But today, nothing could stop him. He was gonna graduate, believe it!
(Sorry, I couldn't resist. Also, I know Naruto's doesn't have a middle name, but I decided to add him one. You'll see later what a role his name will play.)
There were a few people that didn't act like Naruto had the Bubonic Plague. The village leader, Hiruzen Sarutobi, also known as the Third Hokage. His friends Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Hinata Hyuga. Shikamaru's parents Shikaku and Yoshino. The Ramen shop owner Teuchi Ichiraku and his daughter, Ayame. His teacher Iruka Umino. They all filled Naruto with fiery determination.
Naruto sure was grateful.
As Mizuki-Sensei and Iruka-Sensei explained the graduation exam, Naruto made sure he had plenty of ninja supplies. Chakra blades, check. Chakra induction paper, check. Barrier tags, check. Kunai, senbon, and shuriken, check. Random bingo book he swiped from Gramps' office, check. Paper bombs, smoke bombs, flash bombs, check. Sealing scrolls, che–
"Naruto Uzumaki! You're up, Naruto!"
Naruto's head snapped up. "Right!" he exclaimed, and walked toward the training posts. Time to shine!
As he stood in front of a target, Iruka told Naruto he had to perfectly hit the target five times for full marks. Naruto nodded, his attention solely on the target. This was the day he was gonna beat Sasuke. He just knew it. Silence. Then, Naruto threw his shuriken, then his kunai, which changed the trajectory of the shuriken. The ninja star sliced right into the center of the left target, while the kunai hit the center target. Naruto then took three kunai, and threw them all at once. Each hit the corresponding target, right in the center.
Everybody stood in silence for a minute, then Iruka grinned proudly. "Very excellent work, Naruto. You pass the projectile phase!"
Silently, Naruto cheered for himself. Then a deep grumpy voice. "Well, looks like you're actually improving. Soon enough, you'll see humans will soon fall as it advances." Naruto scowled. "Listen here, you fox. You're in my body, I control you. Just stay quiet, okay?" The Kyuubi hesitated. "For the last time, my name is Kurama." Naruto sighed. "Right. Just… please. For my parents' sake. Shut up."
That sobered Kurama up at once. "Fine, brat. But don't think you'll get away with that remark."
Naruto resisted the urge to roll his eyes. It was time to continue the exam.
"Alright, everybody! The scores are here," announced Mizuki.
—ACADEMY GRADUATION TEST SCORES—
1. Uchiha, Sasuke 100/100
2. Aburame, Shino 95/100
3. Yamanaka, Ino 93/100
4. Tie! Haruno, Sakura + Hyuga, Hinata 92/100
5. Uzumaki, Naruto 90/100
6. Akimichi, Choji 87/100
7. Inuzuka, Kiba 83/100
8. Nara, Shikamaru 72/100
•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•
"Awesome!" I got at least a 90!" shouted Naruto.
"Yes, yes, that's very good. Stop hollering, will you?" said an exasperated Kurama.
"Fine."
But everything was not fine.
"Naruto, you know that the exam is not over, right," said Iruka-Sensei. "We still need to grade your ninjutsu." Naruto's expression turned stony. While Naruto was beginning to excel in Taijutsu, weapon training, and strategizing, ninjutsu was where he stumbled. His Achilles heel. He absolutely sucked at it, and could only do three techniques. This was not going to go well.
"Sakura Haruno!"
As the pink-haired girl excitedly walked up, she swiftly went through the hand signs, yelled "Transformation Jutsu!" and poofed into Iruka-Sensei. "You transformed into… me. Very good," nodded Iruka.
"Sasuke Uchiha!"
The Uchiha strutted up, sped through his hand signs, and transformed into the Hokage. "Nice," said Mizuki, writing on his clipboard.
"Naruto Uzumaki!"
Naruto nervously walked up. I can do this, he thought. And so did the Hyuga heiress staring shyly at Naruto. Naruto closed his eyes, and shouted, "Transform!"
And turned into girl.
"Can I please pass, Sensei?" she said wistfully.
"GAAAAHHH! UZUMAKI, DO YOU THINK THIS IS A JOKE!?"
•Konohagakure Ninja Academy Final Graduation Exam Grades•
Sasuke Uchiha—012606
Ninjutsu: B++
Genjutsu: B-
Taijutsu: A
Written Exam: A+
Strength And Stamina: B++
Speed And Agility: A-
Strategizing On The Field: B+
Overall Weapons Handling: A+
Hand Signs: A-
Chakra Control: B+
Shinobi Determination: A++
Ino Yamanaka—012604
Ninjutsu: C+
Genjutsu: B+
Taijutsu: B+
Written Exam: A
Strength And Stamina: B
Speed And Agility: B++
Strategizing On The Field: A-
Overall Weapons Handling: B
Hand Signs: C++
Chakra Control: B
Shinobi Determination: A-
Sakura Haruno—012601
Ninjutsu: C
Genjutsu: A-
Taijutsu: B++
Written Exam: A
Strength And Stamina: A
Speed and Agility: B++
Strategizing On The Field: A
Overall Weapons Handling: B
Hand Signs: C+
Chakra Control: A-
Shinobi Determination: A
Kiba Inuzuka—012620
Ninjutsu: B+
Genjutsu: C
Taijutsu: B
Written Exam: C
Strength And Stamina: B+
Speed And Agility: B+
Strategizing On The Field: B
Overall Weapons Handling: B-
Hand Signs: B++
Chakra Control: B++
Shinobi Determination: A
Hinata Hyuga—012612
Ninjutsu: B-
Genjutsu: C++
Taijutsu: A+
Written Exam: A
Strength And Stamina: A-
Speed And Agility: A
Strategizing On The Field: B+
Overall Weapons Handling: B+
Hand Signs: C+
Chakra Control: A-
Shinobi Determination: A
Shikamaru Nara—012611
Ninjutsu: B+
Genjutsu: B+
Taijutsu: B
Written Exam: D++
Strength And Stamina: B+
Speed And Agility: B++
Strategizing On The Field: A++
Overall Weapons Handling: A-
Hand Signs: B
Chakra Control: A-
Shinobi Determination: B++
Choji Akimichi—012625
Ninjutsu: A-
Genjutsu: C
Taijutsu: B++
Written Exam: C-
Strength And Stamina: A-
Speed And Agility: B+
Strategizing On The Field: B
Overall Weapons Handling: B
Hand Signs: B-
Chakra Control: B+
Shinobi Determination: A-
Shino Aburame—012618
Ninjutsu: A
Genjutsu: B+
Taijutsu: B-
Written Exam: A
Strength And Stamina: B+
Speed And Agility: B++
Strategizing On The Field: B++
Hand Signs: B+
Chakra Control: B
Shinobi Determination: B+
Naruto Uzumaki—012607
Ninjutsu: D
Genjutsu: E-
Taijutsu: B+
Written Exam: B+
Strength And Stamina: A
Speed And Agility: B-
Strategizing On The Field: C-
Hand Signs: C+
Chakra Control: E
Shinobi Determination: A
Naruto looked at his final scores with absolute horror. He was DEFINITELY the worst in the class. W-w-what if he didn't graduate?
"I-Iruka-Sensei, did I pass?"
Naruto's teacher looked at him with an odd expression on his face. Perhaps pity. The white scar along his face gleamed in the light. Then he closed his eyes and shook sadly. "I am very sorry to tell you this, Naruto, but… You're the only one in the class that failed."
Naruto's mouth dropped open, his face in complete shock. Something fragile in his head snapped, and though it was extremely brief, and though Iruka did not notice, you could see that Naruto's eyes turned from azure blue to bright scarlet, his pupil shaping into a cat-like slit. Then back to normal.
Naruto Uzumaki sat on the tire swing, studying the grass. The shadows of the tree danced around him, giving him a mournful air. While everybody would be congratulated by their families, high-fived by their best friends, hugged by their mothers, getting nods of approval from their fathers, Naruto would be stuck at the Academy for another four goddamn stinking years. It just wasn't fair. He did his best! He just wanted to become a ninja, to actually gain respect…
And for some parents to encourage him and his goals…
Slowly, red boiling chakra seeped out of Naruto's stomach and back, cloaking his torso. Naruto's teeth started to sharpen and elongate, and his nails grew…
All of the children, parents, and teachers stared, horrified, at the vessel of the fearsome Nine-Tailed Fox, power leaking from his body. The boy let out a giant roar. Children screamed and grown-ups yelled for help, to get rid of this abomination to mankind. Naruto leaped to the roof of the school, hopping from building to building, fury building up.
"Yes, yes, let it flow… let your hatred seep through your body, cloud your vision…"
Naruto hesitated.
Immediately Kurama tried to keep gettting Naruto to move, but the Uzumaki resisted. "Listen, Kurama…" said Naruto through gritted teeth. "If I keep succumbing to your influence, then I'm gonna die." Naruto could literally hear Kurama's smile faltering. "My parent's died because of you. You know how that makes me feel?"
Kurama was silent.
"No, you obviously don't. Now listen, you stupid fox. If we are gonna survive, we have to work together. You may not like it, and I may not like it, but we will have to sooner or later. You got that? We do not have to be enemies."
Kurama said nothing for a long time. But then, Kyuubi chakra slowly began to crawl back into the Shinigami seal. "Fine," growled Kurama slowly. "What you say is true. But don't think I will not despise you and your bratty demeanor for this."
Naruto collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. He sat down, leaning against the roof ventilator, slipping off his goggles. How easy would it have been for them to be replaced by a ninja headband? Naruto still couldn't graduate. And he wouldn't until four years passed.
ANBU shinobi flickered, surrounding Naruto. "Naruto Uzumaki," the tall, gruff one said, "You're coming with us. The Hokage is waiting."
Naruto anxiously sat down in the Hokage's office. Why did Gramps want to see him? I mean sure, he might've temporarily went psycho and freaked everybody out, but it wasn't like–
Naruto froze when he looked at a portrait of a the Fourth Hokage.. He looked extraordinarily like Naruto, with the same spiky yellow hair, the bright blue eyes, but none of that mattered. He'd seen tons of pictures and photographs. What mattered was the Minato's last name. Minato Namikaze, Fourth Hokage. Husband of Kushina Uzumaki. Died in the Kyuubi attack.
Then, Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the room, a pipe in his mouth. "Hello, Naruto," he said graciously. "How are you?" Naruto tore his mind away from Minato, and shrugged. "Could be better."
"Indeed it could."
'Ahhh, shut up," Naruto thought.
Hiruzen sat down, and took a minute to put a bookmark in his book before swinging his attention to the young Uzumaki. "I heard of an incident at the Academy," he began. "Red boiling chakra apparently covered your body and your eyes turned red. Can you explain what happened?" Though Hiruzen already knew.
Naruto slowly launched into an explanation of what happened, with the Nine-Tails taking advantage of his rage, and Naruto forcing him to back down. Gramps smiled. "I'm proud of you, Naruto," he beamed, "but I have one question. You can communicate with the Nine-Tailed Fox?"
Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He nodded. Hiruzen thought for a moment, then looked back at Naruto. "Well, Naruto, whatever path you choose, I hope it is a good one." Naruto smiled. "Me too," he agreed. But soon his smile faltered. "Gramps?" he asked tentatively. "Well, my middle name is Namikaze, which was the surname of the Fourth, and his wife was also part of the Uzumaki clan." Hiruzen said nothing. "I can put two and two together, y'know. And they were my parents, weren't they?"
Hiruzen nodded. "Indeed, they were," he said wistfully. It seems he missed them. "I didn't want to tell you, and if the village knew, they wouldn't treat you like they do."
"But why did you keep it a secret?" Naruto asked. Hiruzen closed his eyes. "It was to protect you and the Leaf Village."
"Protect me and the village…"
Then he nodded. "I understand," he grinned. Hiruzen raised his eyebrows. "Just like that? You do not resent me for keeping this from you all this time?"
Naruto laughed. "No, Gramps. I forgive you."
The Third smiled. "I'm glad." Then he stood up. " Now that this matter is settled, how about some food?"
Naruto literally blurred as he raced through the door. "Come on, what are you waiting for, let's go, Ichiraku's is the best, last one there is a rotten egg!"
Hiruzen chuckled. "Minato, your son is going to be a fine shinobi," he thought.
And done!
What do you guys think? Not bad, huh?
The next chapter will be about Naruto being tricked into getting the Scroll of Sealing for Mizuki.
Again, leave a review down below!
Stay tuned. :3