AN: Just a head's up, the OC paired with Naruto is based on Makoto Niijima from Persona 5 (I just beat Royale). Her family connections in this fic and everything else will be explained in fic, this is a heads up for those who will get the reference as she's inspired by, not a one-to-one copy.
A Maelstrom Relentless
-Sarutobi-
"Jiji…can you tell me about my parents?" hearing the question from the small blonde child sitting in his office, Sarutobi sighed, knowing this question would come eventually, especially now that the boy had been in the academy for a bit and was seeing his classmates get picked up by their families every day.
Steepling his fingers and leaning forward, he debated on how best to answer and decided that a bit of motivation might be just what was needed to bring the child's abysmal grades up, "Naruto, I can't tell you about them specifically. Your parents were splendid members of the Shinobi Corp but earned their share of enemies in the war, enemies that would likely come for you if word got out that you were their child. Their instructions in the place of their death was that you could learn of your mother when you attain the rank of genin, and of your father when you reach the rank of Chuunin or adulthood. However," his eyes twinkled merrily, "prove yourself responsible, strong, and mature enough and I might just tell you early. I can tell you what I know of your clan though."
"My clan?" Naruto looked stunned, "I have a clan?"
That one simple questions, four little words, sent alarm bells ringing through Sarutobi's head "Why are you surprised Naruto? Surely you remember them? Talking about the Uzumaki, Senju, and Uchiha should have been one of the first lessons the academy gave since those three families were the founders of this village."
"The academy's aid only the Senju and Uchiha founded the village Jiji." Naruto shook his head, expression full of innocent confusion.
"Naruto…why don't you tell me exactly what all your instructors are teaching you." Sarutobi instructed and had to forcibly reign in his anger so as not to accidentally blast the child with his killing intent as he learned just how badly they were sabotaging this child. "Naruto, it seems your instructors are failing in their duty to properly teach you." Walking over to his bookshelf, he began going through it before finding three items he was looking for "So I think we should have a little fun with them, care to help me with a prank? I'll even give you some books and scrolls on what your family specialized in."
"A prank and ninja stuff?! You're the best Jiji!" Naruto glomped his leg excitedly as Sarutobi chuckled, oh he was going to enjoy those bastards faces as he ruined their little plan.
-Naruto-
Sitting in his spot at the back of the class, Naruto forced himself to stay calm as he read the book his Jiji gave him on Fuinjutsu, having that and a bunch of paper to practice his calligraphy on as he waited for class to start and worked to tune out his classmates all talking and whispering about what he was already doing in class, or where he got a book from. "What you got there Naruto-Kun?" looking up, Naruto grinned at his only friend in the class, Makoto Yuhi.
"A book about Fuinjutsu Makoto-Chan." He explained, showing the page he was reading and his calligraphy practice, "According to Jiji, it's a really hard skill to master but if you can it's only limited by how creative the user is."
"Sweeeeet." Makoto grinned, scooching in beside him to see what he was reading.
"How are things back home?" he asked her concerned, knowing she had initially only become his friend to spite her family, neither of them expecting to actually get along as well as they had.
"Still terrible." Makoto groaned, "Kurenai made me sit through another lecture about how she wants our family to become known as Genjutsu masters and how I was supposed to focus on that." He gave a wince of sympathy as she made a face at Genjutsu, neither of them having any real talent for it.
"Alright everybody, pat attention!" their Chuunin instructor called, trying to begin the class which eventually quieted down. Naruto saw the teacher look his way and spot the book but, thankfully, before the man could try and confiscate it the door opened as Jiji walked in. "H-hokage Sama?!" the two Chuunin quickly bowed to their leader who smiled benignly.
"At ease, at ease." Jiji smiled gently, "I just thought I'd visit the academy to see how the future members of the Shinobi corps are progressing." He seemed to consider before nodding pleased, "In fact, let's make it a little game. Okay students, who likes the idea of a quiz where whoever answers the most questions correct gets a reward?" most of the class cheers excitedly. "Excellent, to start with who can tell me about the three clans that founded Konoha?" Naruto saw the sudden, and quickly, hidden, looks of panic on the faces of the Chuunin as they probably began trying to think of way out of their current situation.
"It's a trick question Hokage-Sama." Sakura said smugly when Jiji picked her for having her hand up first, "There are only two founding clans, the Uchiha and the Senju."
"I'm sorry but that isn't correct. Anyone else?" Jiji shook his head as the class seemed stunned, "Hmm, Naruto, your hand is still up. Do you know?"
"The Uchiha and Senju both brought their allies, but they were helped by the Uzumaki clan thanks to the first Hokage's wife being Mito Uzumaki." Naruto answered with a pleased nod, having been told this by his Jiji yesterday in preparation for them exposing the bad teaching at the academy. It was also surprisingly fun to answer questions correctly, plus Makoto-Chan looked at him proudly for getting the question right which felt really good.
"That's correct, very well done." Jiji smiled at him while the class whispered in shock. "Alright, next question." And so the trend continued where Jiji would ask a question he'd learned that the Chuunin instructors had tried to cut or sabotaged along with the regular questions, resulting in not only the rest of the class learning about the Uzumaki, and how much their teachers were lying, but Naruto winning the contest.
"Now I can't believe how much material was taught incorrectly." The Hokage frowns as he glances at the very worried Chuunin, "It seems I'll need to handle some overhauls for the Academy to ensure all of you get the proper training. Naruto-Kun, come by my office later so we can handle your prize."
"Thanks, Jiji!" Naruto waved eagerly even as Makoto gave him an eager high five as the Hokage walked out, stoically ignoring the wailing of Sasuke-Teme's fangirls protesting that Sasuke should get the prize and not Naruto.
"Pathetic." Makoto rolled her eyes at them as the Chuunin worked to get the fangirls to stop throwing a temper tantrum.
"Sasuke's fan girls or the teachers?" he asked, honestly not sure which she was talking about.
"Yes." Makoto nodded simply, her grin playful "Anyway, why didn't you tell me you had a clan before?"
"I didn't know until recently." He frowned for a moment before shaking it off "But now I'm working on what my clan specialized in. Kenjutsu, Fuinjutsu, and water elemental ninjutsu. Apparently, we used to have a village too but during the second great ninja war, Cloud, Mist, and Stone sent an allied army to kill off my clan. Most of the army died in the process while the survivors of my clan scattered. Apparently the Fourth Hokage's wife was an Uzumaki too and found as many of them as she could." As he talked, he turned sad again, remembering what his Jiji had said, "But they all died during the Kyuubi attack."
"I'm sorry Naruto-Kun." Makoto squeezed his hand sympathetically as the Chuunin began to finish getting the class under control.
Giving her a smile, Naruto squeezed back "Still, Jiji said he'd be showing me where he's kept my clan scrolls 'till I move into a house that doesn't get broken into so much. Wanna look over em with me later?"
"You know it!" Makoto grinned before they focused on the lessons for the day, Naruto wanting that rush of Makoto smiling at him when he got a question right again.
-Graduation exam-
Letting out a yell, Naruto charged Makoto-Chan for their Taijutsu spar, their instructors watching carefully to grade them. In the six years since he had asked his Jiji that fateful question everything had been improving for him. That one piece of information, the potential to learn who his parents were, drove him to heights nothing else could have. Thanks to his family's shadow clone technique, something his Jiji made sure he fully understood the dangers of before he was allowed to use it, he was able to get his chakra at least somewhat under control.
Makoto-Chan had been training with him just as long, Jiji intervening when he learned of what Kurenai was doing in trying to dictate what fields Makoko could study. While he'd been mastering his clan's specialization, she'd found a talent for Taijutsu, hence the current medley of bruises she was giving him, as well as her own variation of medical jutsu.
"And time!" Iruka sensei called, this being one of the instructors the Hokage and the Yamanaka clan had cleared for approval to teach at the academy and not sabotage anybody, "Well done you two, but the winner is Makoto-Chan."
"Good job." Naruto grinned at his best friend, "Although just wait till the exams are over, then we're doing kenjutsu." He still protested the academy not teaching bladework meaning he couldn't get exam points for his badass sword skills or his fuinjutsu.
"Damnit, and here I thought I was done getting bruises for the day." Makoto groaned good naturedly, "Your Bokken hurt!"
"And your firsts don't?"
"Pansy."
"Ass."
"I know you like it." she teased as he flushed, both of them well aware of how pretty she was, something she liked to take full advantage of when she teased him.
"Alright everybody, now that the last spar is over let's head inside for the ninjutsu test." Iruka began herding everyone in. "Now, everybody will be called into the next room one by one. You need to demonstrate a Henge, a substitution, and a clone jutsu. Bonus points will be allotted for those who can display an additional jutsu as well." And so, their classmates began getting called out one by one till it was Naruto's turn, Makoto waving at him as he entered the room.
"Alright," the Chuunin duo of Kotetsu and Izumo were waiting inside for him, "applicant Uzumaki, please demonstrate a Henge for us please." On command he crossed his fingers, becoming a carbon copy of his Jiji "Good attention to detail, full points on the visual. But what of the voice?"
"Really, you're particular, aren't you?" Naruto asked, knowing his Jiji's voice almost as well as his own or Mikoto-chan's.
"Definitely full marks." Izumo nodded to Kotetsu, "Now a substitution if you would?" in response he swapped out with the giant Kunai on Izumo's back, his feet sticking to the older shinobi using the tree walking exercise and making it very clear this would have been a viable method of assassination if Naruto was an enemy. "…Full marks again and thanks for pointing out that weakness, I hadn't thought of it."
"I have seals on my sword and sheath to prevent it from happening to me. Talk to the Hokage and he can schedule a time for me to do the same with those." Naruto grinned as he substituted with the kunai again to go back to where he was before.
"Schedule?" Kotetsu raised an eyebrow confused.
"It's an original seal I developed but am letting the village use so the Hokage is giving me mission pay for each one I administer." Naruto grinned proudly.
"Anyway, back to the test." Kotetsu worked to get everything back on track "Your clone jutsu?"
"Shadow clone!" Naruto called out, filling the room with several of the solid constructs as the two chunin gaped at the sight.
"Naruto, I can feel your smirk so stop showing off!" he heard Makoto shout from outside as he winced before grinning sheepishly, dispelling his clones as the examiners regained their bearings.
"Um…do you have any other jutsu to demonstrate for us?" Izumo asked.
"Yeah, these." Naruto grunted, forming his gleaming golden chakra chains "My adamantine sealing chains. They're not only solid so they're useful in a fight, but I can form a barrier between two chains and if I impale or wrap someone in them their chakra is suppressed." To demonstrate he had one of his chains gently encircle Izumo's waist as the man tried to use a jutsu but couldn't."
"Naruto, we are very impressed." The Chuunin smiled as they finished tallying his scores as Naruto pumped his fist and waited for Makoto to finish her own.
-Team Assignments-
"Welcome everyone." Iruka smiled at the class, all of whom had passed the graduation exam "Before we get into team assignment, I want to congratulate everyone on passing their exam. Now, let's begin with team ten which will have the traditional mixture of the top male and female students as well as the dead last of the class. This team shall be taught by Tsume Inuzaka and consist of Rookie of the year Naruto Uzumaki, Kunoichi of the year Makoto Yuki, and Shikamaru Nara who placed last in the exams."
"Wait what?!" Shikamaru actually sat up in shock, "But shouldn't I be on a team with Choji and Ino?"
"And there's no way that dobe got Rookie of the Year over Sasuke-Kun!" Sakura screeched angrily.
"Naruto scored the highest overall." Iruka scowled at Sakura till she quieted down, "And as for you Shikamaru, that likely would have happened if you hadn't placed last. The Ino-Shika-Cho combination is a fearsome one but many in the elemental nations already are aware of it and the Hokage felt that with your scores you wouldn't be able to pull of the techniques fast enough to overcome someone expecting them." The lazy genius sat in stunned silence as the rest of the teams were read out, with Makoto's sister Kurenai teaching the Aburame, Hyuuga, and Inuzaka heirs, Sharingan Kakashi teaching Sasuke, Ino, and Sakura, and Choji was assigned to a team with two civilian born applicants. "Now everyone, you have free time to talk with each other until your Jonin senseis come to collect you for lunch." With that, Iruka walked out, leaving everyone to their own devices.
"Hey." Looking up, Naruto saw Hinata, Kiba, and Shino approaching them, "Makoto, your sister is our new sensei yeah? What can you tell me about her? I'll tell you about my mom since she's your sensei."
"You're going to want to do a lot of independent training." Makoto warned him, "And discuss what she teaches you with the shinobi of your family since my sister sucks at teaching. Hell, the last time she tried to have an apprentice she decided the girl could never actually use her bloodline effectively and tried to convince the Hokage to seal away her chakra and lock her up under house arrest till she died."
The trio all gape at that little reveal, "Not to mention she can only do genjutsu and tried to force Makoto to do the same." Naruto shook his head, "I overheard some Jonin talking and if your team fails, she might get demoted from full Jonin to special Jonin if not all the way down to Chunin."
"Fuuuuuuuuuuck." Kiba groaned, "Definitely training with my sis whenever I can now. You guys are lucky though, mom actually knows what she's doing but she won't accept any laziness and will work you to the bone."
"Excellent." Makoto grinned sharing a high five with him at the thought of a Sensei who would work them that hard. "Oh, and my sister also thinks all men are perverts so be ready just in case guys."
"Is it too late to change senseis?" Kiba groaned as Hinata and Shino pat his back sympathetically.
"Well I know most Jonin only train for part of the day with their students, needing time to keep their own skills sharp. We could all meet together when our senseis aren't teaching us to spar and train together." Naruto offered.
Pausing to sniff the air, Kiba nodded "We might just take you up on that Naruto. But for now, brace yourself cause-" the door kicked open as a wild looking woman entered the room "my mom's here."
"Alright team ten, fall in!" Tsume Inuzaka shouted as Naruto and Makoto hurried up front, Shikamaru starting to follow lazily before their new sensei decided he was moving too slow and sent her giant wolf to grab and drag him over, much to the lazy Nara's squawking protests. "Alright everyone, we're going to training ground ten so I can get a feel for your skills and then it's all you can eat barbeque on me!"
"Yes sensei!" Naruto and Makoto shouted with battle hungry grins, Shikamaru just groaned in response as they were whisked off by a shunshin.
"Now whelps, normally the Jonin sensei is supposed to give a secondary test to see if you all get to stay as a team or get sent back to the academy but fuck that noise! If you passed the first test you clearly have the potential and damnit all I'll see it honed into one hell of an edge. Are we clear?"
"Yes sensei!" Naruto and Makoto saluted while Shikamaru just muttered about how this was troublesome, and he wanted to play shogi.
Getting an idea, Naruto gestured for his new sensei to lean down as he whispered his plan in her ear, "You're sure it works kid?" she asked with a raise eyebrow as he nodded eagerly "Then go ahead." With that, he pulled out a seal he'd been working on, and recently completed, slapping it onto Shikamaru's forehead as the seal got absorbed into him and the typically lazy Nara shot up and began bouncing around.
"Naruto?! What did you do to me?!" Shikamaru demanded, seemingly unable to keep still.
"That little seal means that for the next hour you're going to have the same kind of energy that I do." Naruto grinned happily, "You'll go through one hell of a crash afterwards though."
"And he'll be allowed to keep using this on you till you get your act together and take this seriously." Tsume warned Shikamaru "I already know that the only jutsu you can do are shadow possession and the academy three so while I'm testing these two, you're going to be doing exercises. While I'm testing Naruto, I want you running laps around the training ground. While I'm testing Makoto, I want pushups and crunches in alternating sets of twenty. Also, Kuromaru will be making sure you obey, so move it!" the massive wolf like hound happily started chasing the lazy genius who was cursing Naruto all the while. "Oh kid, I'm going to love having you around if you can do shit like that. I'll be sure his mom knows about the seal too. You might get rich just by the Nara wives buying them to use on their husbands."
"Sweeeeet." Naruto grinned, stepping forward to spar with his new sensei, sword at the ready.
"And don't worry, I won't bust you up too badly in front of that cute little girlfriend of yours." Tsume-sensei teased as Naruto turned bright cherry red, the loud squeak from Makoto implying she'd done the same.
"W-we aren't dating!" he protested before having to quickly duck the surprise attack from his new teacher.
"Yet." Tsume chuckled even as she clawed at him, "And I knew your mom kid, I saw how she and your old man acted. I give it a week before I find you two sucking face before training." That comment was enough of a distraction to let his sensei land a clean hit on him as he winced, pushing aside the pain as he summoned his chains, sending them rushing at his sensei to force her back and give himself some room to breathe. The fight continued, Tsume sensei holding back just enough to let him fully demonstrate what he could do while still feeling pushed. Afterward, he lay panting on the ground, completely drenched in sweat while Tsume was clearly still more than ready to fight Makoto as well. "Good work kid." The wild woman nodded pleased, "I'm impressed. Alright Makoto, you're up."
From where he lay recovering, Naruto saw Shikamaru drop from his run before Kuromaru made him start his new exercises as instructed. Makoto's focus on Taijutsu was clear in the fight and Tsume picked up on it, studying the style Makoto was using along with how she incorporated her energy attacks that she'd developed by bastardizing medical jutsu to they could hit like a regular elemental ninjutsu but also mess with the health of whoever was on the receiving end.
Finally, though, the testing was at an end as he and Makoto were left bruises and exhausted while Shikamaru was just exhausted, the seal having worn off. "Alright kiddos, you all did great." Tsume grinned at them, flopping down in the dirt along with Kuromaru "Naruto, you're clearly focusing on using speed to land strong hits quickly. If you want to stick with that then you need to further improve your situational awareness and reaction time. Makoto, you're on the right track with your style as it suits you, close combat along with those energy attacks for range or to hit them when your opponent can't dodge. You still need to work on your stamina, strength, and speed more though. I'd also suggest studying other Taijutsu styles to keep developing the one you're using and making it unique to yourself. Shikamaru, I'm sorry but you need the most work. You clearly haven't been putting in much effort. Your clan are known for being strategists but if you just rely on trying to be clever and don't build your body to the point you can successfully do the jutsu you plan then you're a hinderance. I'm going to need to build up your body before we can start finding what fields you'll need or want to train more in. For now, though, I promised barbeque."
"You rock sensei." Naruto gave a tired cheer as he helped up Makoto, Kuromaru dragging the limp and exhausted Shikamaru behind him.
"You're damn right I do!" Tsume laughed as she led the way through town, "Also, Naruto, Makoto, the Hokage wants to talk to you both this evening once you're recovered. He said he'd be telling you about your mom, as well as another secret you're ready to know."
-Three months later-
-Tsume-
Smiling proudly, Tsume walked behind her students as they walked towards the Hokage tower for their newest mission. In the few months she'd had her brats she'd gotten to see them blossom, doing all she could to encourage their growth. For Shikamaru she'd been correct about how much certain members of his clan had responded to that seal of Naruto's, many of them starting to act less lazy just to avoid it meaning her student was taking things far more seriously than before. She let him relax after training, during which he'd admitted that cloud watching felt even better after a hard workout, and the shogi games still occurred to help train his mind.
Naruto was as wild as and energetic as an Inuzaka was, which she was sure how he'd bonded so well with Kiba during the genin's group training they'd set up on their own, but he wore his heart on his sleeve. She'd been stunned when she found out that he shared the secret of the Kyuubi with his circle of friends, not wanting to hide that from them, and even prouder when the group stood by his side.
Makoto was a treasure trove of potential that she'd happily fought tooth and nail, literally, to keep Kurenai from messing up. Her son's Jonin sensei having tried to but into how she trained her own team but Oooooh boy did it feel good to put that uppity brat in her place.
She was brought from her musings though when she entered the mission room to see the Hokage in serious business mode as he finished reading a letter, "Team ten, this is urgent. Team seven has encountered missing nin on what was supposed to be a simple escort mission. Kakashi has decided to continue onward regardless so you and your genin are to go back them up. Are we clear?"
"Understood Hokage-Sama." She saluted, standing up straight, "Who has leading authority on the mission?"
"Since Kakashi continued on with rookie genin on their first C rank after this I'm turning authority over to you. Your team are more experienced, so I expect results." Sarutobi handed her a mission scroll which would also show she was the new one in charge once she reached Kakashi.
"Brats, you all have your mission gear?"
"Yes sensei!" they all shouted now, showing their scrolls where they kept equipment sealed with them at all times.
"Good, then let's move!" with that she took off, her brats following after her as they began running at full speed towards the land of waves, passing the place where Kakashi's sent report had stated they'd left the Demon Brothers tied up. Eventually, she heard the sound of combat up ahead, catching the scent of four foreign shinobi mixed with Kakashi's team and what was likely the client. Seeing Kakashi stuck in a water bubble and getting his ass beat while a clone approached the genin and client, Tsume made her plan.
"Shikamaru, deal with the demon brothers on the perimeter! Naruto, take out that clone! Makoto, there's a shinobi in the trees watching! Kuromaru will back you all up and once your opponents are dealt with come assist me!" She shouted as her team splintered off, going towards their intended targets while she shot towards what was likely the real Zabuza Momochi trying to drown Kakashi.
"Ah, I see Konoha sent backup." Zabuza sneered at her as she charged atop the water, drawing his massive butcher's blade.
"We look after out own." Tsume narrowed her eyes, ducking under Zabuza's slash as she clawed at his legs, making him have to jump to avoid her attack. Behind her, she could hear the sounds of the demon brother's screaming in panic at Shikamaru's original shadow techniques, many of them the mad genius that was Naruto helped brainstorm, while the sound of constant ice came from where Makoto was.
"Hmph." Zabuza scoffed before his eyes widened, having to quickly bring up his sword to block a slash from Naruto who'd killed the clone and was now joining her. With her own attacks still coming he was forced to release Kakashi who began gasping for air.
"Kakashi, we're fresh so we'll handle Zabuza. Go make sure my students handle their opponents." She ordered, not taking her eyes off of Zabuza as Kakashi thankfully obeyed without raising a fuss.
"Fighting me with a genin? Your cockiness is gonna get you killed." Zabuza spat, sending a water dragon jutsu their way.
"Not really. Naruto, be a dear would you." She glanced at her blond brat as he sliced at the jutsu, the dragon dissolving away.
"What?!" Zabuza gaped before Naruto swung his sword as a water dragon of his own shot out of the blade.
"Word of advice," Tsume chuckled as she run atop the multiple water dragons Naruto was spamming "never underestimate an Uzumaki using a sword they've put seals on."
"An Uzu-" Zabuza's surprise cost him as he overcompensated on dodging one of Naruto's dragons, leaving him open for her claws which tore long bloody gashes into his ribs. Following up with a strong kick, she sent him flying towards Naruto, the Kubikirihocho having fallen from limp fingers after that slash, leaving Naruto open to swing his own blade, severing Zabuza's head from his shoulders.
"Noooooo!" a shout came from the shore as Tsume noticed the shinobi Makoto was fighting saw the death of the swordsman, "Zabuza-Sa-" the exclamation was cut off by a powerful blow from Makoto which knocked out the boy she figured had the Hyoton given the ice everywhere. The demon brothers were covered in cuts and impalement holes from Shikamaru. Kakashi was collapsed on the ground too tired to move thanks to that Sharingan of his.
"Damnit Kakashi." She sighed as she helped Naruto seal away the sword and remains of Zabuza before doing the same with her other student's opponents, putting them in stasis scrolls for enemies so they could be interrogated back in Konoha.
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke demanded once they approached the three genin and the exhausted Kakashi.
"The Hokage sent us as backup after getting Kakashi's letter." She decided to cut the brat some slack this time given what had just happened. Being attacked by some C ranked missing nin as well as an S rank had to be stressful. Hell, the only reason she and Naruto killed him as easily as they had was because he had to have been tired from fighting Kakashi and being on the run paired with her managing to surprise him.
"D-did you have to kill him?" Sakura asked pale and looking sick as Naruto cleaned the blood from his sword.
"Yes." Tsume said firmly, "And you will too in this business. What have you been teaching them if they don't already understand this Kakashi?" she demanded from the cyclopic Jonin who was loaded onto a stretcher that Naruto had unsealed and carried by two shadow clones.
"Teamwork…exercises." The lazy pervert wheezed as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Sweet Kami you're hopeless." She shook her head, getting everyone to move out as she showed the notice that she was the current Jonin in charge now and finding out what new information had been acquired.
"How did you destroy that big water dragon?" Ino asked as they waited by the river for a boat to take them to the Island of Wave.
"It has seals on it that give it special tricks." Naruto grinned smugly, not going into detail as Tsume had to hold back a snort at the understatement he'd just hit them with. That damn thing was a work of genius. He'd found a way to get the sword to bond to one wielder at a time and so any jutsu the sword cut through or were used by someone holding the sword, that bonded user can then channel through the blade, regardless of bloodline. They even had the same level of control as whoever used the jutsu and if they came across someone with better control, they could overwrite the old jutsu in the sword with a new one. It was a better version of the Sharingan's copying in her opinion.
Plan forming, she got everyone back to this Tazuna guy's house as she left several earth clones and one shadow clone behind to watch over everyone inside, "My team and I are going to go do a patrol." She told them, not needing the Uchiha brat to get uppity with what she had in mind, "We'll be back soon enough." Gesturing for her team to follow, she began following her nose, heading deep into the woods until she came upon Gato's massive mansion. "Naruto, recon." She ordered as the blond Jinchuriki began making shadow clones, the doppelgangers henging into flies and exploring the manor.
"Just Zabuza, bandits, and rogue samurai Sensei." Naruto ordered after his clones dispelled, "No prisoners inside. Although given the cells that isn't always the case. I also found out Gato was going to sell out Zabuza to Kiri hunter nin after Tazuna was dead. He also planned to fund Orochimaru to get rid of Konoha so there wouldn't be a threat on that border." Naruto's eyes burned with fury at that piece of news, a sentiment she wholeheartedly shared.
"Whelp, is that chakra sharing seal ready?" she demanded, having had Naruto let her know of all new seals he was working on so she could strategize on missions easier.
"Perfectly sensei." Naruto's grin was savage, "The Hell spire plan?" at her nod Naruto nodded, pulling out his brushes as he painted a seal onto Shikamaru's shoulder and a matching one on his own palm before joining them, the seal letting Shikamaru do one jutsu while drawing from Naruto's monstrous reserves instead of his own much smaller ones.
"Shadow style." Shikamaru said coldly, his team having already had their first kills and developed a hatred for scum like Gato, "Hell Spire technique!" the kid's shadow, already lost in the surrounding darkness due to the moonless sky, began to roil before parts of the darkness solidified and hardened, becoming a forest of spike and lances that impaled from the ground up, bursting through the manor and into the sky.
"Alright, release the spikes. Naruto, make as many shadow clones as you can, half will go inside me to check for survivors while the other half will stay with you to guard the perimeter." She ordered as they nodded without hesitation.
"Yes sensei!" they acknowledged, keeping their voices down due to being in enemy territory. Damn these brats were great.
-Chunin exams: first part-
-Naruto-
Calmly, Naruto watched as his pencil filled in the answers of his test, seeing the smell Tendril of Shikamaru's shadow connecting his shadow to Naruto and Makoto, filling in all their test answers for them meaning he could relax and watch the less prepared test takers panic.
"Alright everyone, it's time for the final question." Ibiki announced, the head of Konoha T&I looking about seriously, "But before I give it you have to understand the special rules involving this question. First off, this question is optional, if you don't feel ready you can walk out but your team will have to as well. Secondly, if you fail this question you fail the test completely, regardless of how many questions you've already gotten correct." Several applicants started muttering amongst themselves at that before being cut off by a burst of Killing Intent "Furthermore, if you choose to try this question and get it wrong…then you can never enter the chunin exams again." At that, the forfeits began pouring in. Team after team quitting as a group or being forced to when one member caved, such as team seven being sent away with Sasuke having to be physically dragged out after Sakura had called it quits.
"Alright for those still here…you pass." Ibiki grinned at the stunned reactions from those who had believed the lie, one that had been so bold face Naruto had struggled not to roll his eyes. Seriously, how the hell could a Konoha Jonin give that order to the genin of other villages and expect it to be upheld? He was roused from his thoughts when he heard something impact with the window with a loud thunk before falling to the ground bellow, a window Naruto recognized as one he'd been commissioned to reinforce with seals. "Best investment I've ever made." Ibiki smirked smugly, "I'll go check on your proctor for the next part of the exam and make sure she didn't hit her head too hard there. You all are to show up to Training ground twenty-four tomorrow morning at nine. Dismissed!"
-Second test-
"Alright brats, I hope you're ready!" the proctor for the second exam, Anko Mitarashi, smirked as she tried to look intimidating even with the giant bruised lump on her forehead from impacting with the window yesterday "For your second test you'll be spending time in my favorite playground, the forest of death!" at that, there was ominous thunder despite it being clear skies "Each team will be given one of these." Anko held up two scrolls "You'll need both a scroll of Earth and a scroll of Heaven to pass. Once you have both scrolls head for the tower in the center of the forest. You have five days and if you open the scrolls before you get to the tower then you're disqualified."
"What about food?" Choji whimpered worriedly as Naruto shook his head at that being the guy's biggest concern.
"There are plenty of edible plants and animals in the forest." Anko assured them "But this is a survival test, it isn't supposed to be easy. Now, each team send someone to collect your scroll and safety wavers." Nodding to his teammates, Naruto stepped towards the tent, a plan already formed and begun. Once everyone had their scrolls and was in position, Anko gave the order as the gates opened, the teams all pouring into their entry points.
"Got the second scroll?" Naruto looked at his team once they were well into the trees, the scroll of heaven he'd been given in hand.
"Right here." Makoto grinned, holding up the scroll of Earth he'd swiped using a couple shadow clones and a substitution.
"Got your seals?" he smirked as they used storage seals to hide their scrolls, his friends pulling up the energy booster seals he'd improved upon from that first use on Shikamaru.
"Man, I hate these things." Shikamaru glared at the seals grumpily even as they both triggered the boost.
"Well I had the energy and stamin to outrun the Anbu back in the academy. That speed will get us to the tower fast." He told them with a sigh, knowing they'd hate the crash afterwards but if they got to the tower fast then they'd have five days to recover. Once the seals were triggered, they began running full sprint, the trees becoming a blur around them as the tower was soon into sight.
"Think we set a record?" Naruto grunted as he pried open the doors to the tower, his friends readying the scrolls.
"Probably." Shikamaru shrugged as they saw the summoning seals on the now opened scrolls.
"Think she's gonna gloat?" He tilted his head before the Jonin herself got summoned, a brilliant smile when she saw where she was.
"Fuck yeah my brats are awesome!" she pulled them all into a massive group hug, "You all just won me so much sake money from the other senseis! We're getting all you can eat dinner on me to celebrate!"
-Preliminaries-
-Tsume-
Standing by her brats, and smirking smugly at the other Jonin senseis who's brats were nowhere near as cool as her own, except from Kurenai's but that was in no relation to the woman's teaching prowess, Kurenai waited for the preliminary matches to begin. Her son's team had managed to get through the forest, as had Gai's team and Asuma's with Choji and the two civilian born. There was a Konoha team she didn't really recognize, a team from Sound, and a team from Sand.
Finally, the Hokage's speech, which she admittedly hadn't been listening to, came to a close as the first matchup was called. "Shikamaru Nara versus Kin Tsuchi."
"You got this Shika." Naruto held his hand out for a fist bump which Shikamaru returned along with a hug from Makoto.
"Any day now tree hugger!" the Sound girl taunted with a condescending sneer that Shikamaru ignored, moving calmly down to the arena where he waited for the signal to begin. "Take this!" Kin yelled, throwing senbon the moment the signal to begin had been given, small bells attached to her weapons jangling as they flew.
"That's it? Really?" Shikamaru sighed as he caught them from their flight "These things are a lot slower than my teammate is and your idea was so obvious. Sound village and having bells attached to your weapons? Plus, what we saw your mummified friend do in the first exam?" Shikamaru casually cut the bells off of the senbon he'd caught and the new ones she kept throwing "Let's just get this over with." Shikamaru sighed as she saw him reach into his pocket, pulling out a flashbang which he tossed behind him. Once the light was clear his opponent was dead on the ground with a large hole in her neck.
"Winner, Shikamaru." The proctor declared as the greener genin not used to death all looked queasy, much to her dissatisfaction. She'd made sure her team all got their first kills long ago and helped them through each one. Her brats were actually ready for the shinobi world.
"Next bout will be Makoto Yuhi versus Yoroi Akado." The proctor calls out as her second brat got up but paused before going down.
"I think I need something for luck first." Makoto nodded to herself and, before a confused Naruto could ask, she kissed the blond runt and then jumped down, leaving one dazed brat and the other laughing at his expression.
"Well…it wasn't a week." She chuckled as she turned to watch the fight, keeping an eye on Kurenai in case the Jonin tried anything from that display.
"You have no hope of beating me girl." The genin from the team she didn't recognize sneered at her, "Run on back to your little boyfriend and leave the shinobi business to the men."
"Oh, he's gonna wish he hadn't said that." Naruto winced, "Makoto is gonna kick his ass so hard." Down below, the fight had already started as Yoroi grabbed Makoto, his arm glowing with a strange chakra technique.
"Feel that bitch?" Yoroi chuckled darkly, "I can drain your chakra on contact. You have no hope of winni-" the rest was cut off by his kunoichi's metal reinforced fist impacting the asshole's teeth.
"Um…winner, Makoto Yuhi…somebody get him to the infirmary and be sure to pick up those teeth. Moving on to the third match, we Naruto Uzumaki versus Dosu Kinuta." The proctor announced.
"How are all your brats getting called so quickly?" Asuma asked with a raised eyebrow as Tsume smirked smugly.
"Shere levels of baddassery." She nodded as Naruto faced off against the mummy from the sound team, the proctor announcing for the fight to begin.
"Yeah, not letting you get close buddy." Naruto swung his sword as the water dragon he'd copied from Zabuza shot towards a surprised Dosu who managed to dodge but was now standing in a large puddle, a puddle that reached the tip of Naruto's sword, a sword which also had a lightning jutsu in it. Wincing at the bright flash of light from Naruto zapping the sound asshole, she turned to her two other victorious genin, "Well done brats but I hope you all are ready to really put in some work because the real fights are yet to come."
-Chuunin exam finals-
-Naruto-
Standing in the arena and basking in the excitement of the crowd, Naruto held his girlfriend's hand as they waited for the proctor to arrive and announce the beginning of the first fight. In the stands he could see a still seething Sasuke, his neck covered in counter seals after a pedophilic missing nin gave him a doom hickey, or at least that's how Tsume-Sensei summarized it.
"Welcome, one and all, to the first match of the Chuunin exam finals!" the proctor shouted to the crowd which roared with excitement, "For our first match, we have Gaara of the Dessert, son of the Kazekage, against Naruto Uzumaki of Konoha!" smiling at Makoto, he gave her a quick kiss before stepping into the field proper, those not announced for the first fight heading up to the contestant booth. "Are you both ready?" the proctor asked them as Naruto loosened up.
"I am." He nodded to the man even as Gaara gave off a crazed smile.
"Mother shall have your blood." Gaara licked his lips, breath heavy.
"Then begin!" the second the words left the proctor's mouth, white feathers began falling all around the arena.
"Huh, guess you lot are starting earlier without Sasuke in the tournament." Naruto shook his head as his chakra chains manifested, grabbing Gaara tightly and not letting him go. Up in the Hokage booth, he saw the bursts of chakra as What had to be Orochimaru summoned his guards in a ploy to be able to fight Hokage-Jiji one on one. Unfortunately for the pedo snake they'd known about the invasion plan since wave thanks to what they found in Gato's base, so they'd been prepping for this for months now. "Hey honey, how are things up there?" he shouted over his shoulder to the contestant booth where Makoto and Shikamaru were subduing the other two members of the sound team, seals he'd placed all throughout the arena nullifying the sleep genjutsu's effect.
"Doing great!" Makoto shouted back with a smile, "Think the Hokage is alright?" looking over at the booth he could easily see the distinctive white main of Jiraiya of the Sanin fighting alongside Jiji against Orochimaru in the small space.
"I think he's doing fine!" he nodded in satisfaction.
"Kid, you Uzumaki are scary." The proctor shook his head with a sigh even as Gaara thrashed angrily in the chains.
"Oi, these things held the Kyuubi before. I doubt the container of the one tail is gonna get out of them." Naruto shook his head at the psychotic genin, "Good grief do you need therapy…and a nap."
AN: And that's my one shot for a Naruto focused on his clan's specializations. I don't have any plans at the moment to turn this into a longer fic but if anyone wants to do so then shoot me a PM about adopting it.