Chapter Two

Heyo! Welcome back to The Son of Two Heroes. I don't have a super active beta, so anyone willing to help would be appreciated! Thanks, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does. If I did Naruto would have been slightly smarter.

This was it. He was ready. It was time to become a genin and he could finally learn about his mother. Naruto was positively ecstatic and ready to go. Sliding on his black t-shirt, he strapped on his metal arm protectors, and donned his black pants. Closing the door with a thud, he took off for the academy.

Having finished the written portion, and completed the demonstrations of ninjutsu, the genin hopefuls found themselves outside for a taijutsu test.

"Alright class listen up!" The white haired chunin instructor called out. "Each of you will spar with me, and Iruka will assess your skill got it?"

A chorus of "yes" came from the class and the matches started. Most had quite a bit of trouble with Mizuki but still managed to pass, the clan kids however did fairly well against the hardened chunin. Kiba giving him a considerable amount of trouble.

"Inuzuka Kiba, pass" Iruka announced "Hinata Hyūga please come up." Hinata then began her match doing well and subsequently passing as many others did. The students one by one were called up and tested.

"Uchiha Sasuke" as his name was called the stoic and bored looking last survivor walked up to the mat and took his stance, preparing for Mizuki's inevitable assault. Mizuki dashed at the confident Uchiha, they quickly engaged in a fierce taijutsu bout. Sasuke threw himself into a heel drop on the chunin but his superior speed allowed him a quick dodge. When the Uchiha's foot impacted the ground however he quickly adjusted into a spin kick catching Mizuki in the back. At that point Iruka called the match, and Sasuke casually strolled off of the mat causing his fangirls to ooh and ahh about how cool he was.

"Alright, Uzumaki Naruto" hearing Iruka call his name the boy made his way to the mat. Mizuki smiled at him and wished him luck telling him to do his best, but something seemed off to Naruto. In the chunin's mind he intended to rough up the Jinchuuriki something fierce.

Naruto meanwhile sensed something was off but pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he knew he had to pass this test so he could learn of his mother and start his path to Hokage. Naruto settled into his stance and readied himself. The chunin immediately kicked off at speeds higher than that he had used on the other students. Naruto's eyes widened slightly in surprise at this but once again, he pushed it to the back of his mind and engaged. The blond slid under a hard spin kick, pouncing on one hand and slamming his foot into Mizuki's hip. "This damn brat hits hard." Mizuki thought with a snarl. He twisted around and caught the boy in the ribs with his fist launching the boy backwards. However Naruto caught himself in a handstand and spun around onto his feet facing his opponent. With a chakra enhanced sprint he cleared the space between them in what almost seemed like an instant.

He found himself wishing in the back of his mind he could have used his kunai substitution. Just as he reached the chunin he did the unexpected and slid onto the ground catching Mizuki by the ankles and pulling his feet out from under him slamming him face first into the ground. A slightly stunned Iruka starred for a moment before regaining his composure clearing his throat and announcing "Uzumaki Naruto, pass."

Naruto stood beside a still downed Mizuki and smiled at the scarred chunin. The other instructor got up and dusted himself off and made his way to Iruka's side muttering about brats and demons. "You'll pay for this you damn demon brat." Mizuki thought to himself as tried to hide his humiliation and shame by putting up a fake smile and told the boy well done. The class all then filed back into the academy and took seats.

"Alright everyone, on Monday be here at eight am sharp for team assignments. Enjoy your down time because life's about to get a lot more interesting!" Iruka finished off with a smile. "Everyone head home." He said with a wave as he and Mizuki left the room to go write reports on all of the soon to be genin.

After they left the academy, Naruto and Sasuke met up at training ground fourteen.
"Hey there bastard!" Naruto called out with a grin as he arrived.

"Hn." Sasuke grunted with a smirk of his own. "Ready to lose loser?" He asked arrogantly.

"Sure sure, little Sasuke." Naruto said mockingly sticking out his tongue. "Let's get wild then." He said. The Uchiha grunted at the taunt.

Sasuke and Naruto took their stances and Naruto threw a kunai into the air. When it hit the ground they burst into a fierce bout of taijutsu engaging each other with hard blows. These two never were and never would be, ordinary genin.

It was late the next evening when Naruto who was committing himself to another round of physical training, sensed the presence of his second Sensei moving quickly past his training ground. "That's strange" Naruto thought to himself. "Past this training ground is just the edge of the village...wait he couldn't be? Is he deserting the village? No no I know Sensei doesn't like me but I'm sure he wouldn't turn traitor." And so the boy chose to investigate and took off in the direction of his teacher.

"Uzumaki Naruto has stolen the scroll of seals!" A leaf jounin yelled. "Mobilize the chunin corps!"

"Now now," a voice broke through the chaos. "You will all find young Uzumaki and bring him to me unharmed and with the scroll in tow. Is that understood?" The Third Hokage commanded his shinobi.

"L-lord Third?" A chunin asked. "But surely he stole the scr-...

"I said is that understood?" The Hokage asked in a no nonsense tone.

"Y-yes sir!"

"Good now go!" The village leader waved his hand in dismissal and the shinobi scattered. "Inu!" A tall ANBU with a dog mask and spiky silver hair landed next to the aged Hokage in a kneeling position. "Go find Naruto. There is a traitor amongst us who has tried to impersonate Naruto as a cover for his escape. The scroll he stole is fake but we must catch him. But if I know our boy he will find his way into this trouble, or the traitor may try to harm him." The Hokage then sighed, "keep him safe Inu."

"Yes Lord Hokage" and with the wind the ANBU was gone.

The forest was quiet as Naruto watched the chunin scout the area and prepare his things. Deeply troubling the boy was the large scroll with the Hokage's seal on it. No chuunin should be out in the forest on the edge of the village with a scroll of high importance alone. This could only mean one thing. "Damnit could that possibly mean you're a traitor after all?" Naruto questioned to himself. The chunin was rushing himself obviously in a slight panic. "Wonder what's got him so shook up..."

Dropping down a few yards away from the supposed traitor, Naruto called out "Hey! Mizuki-Sensei! What're you doin out here at this time of night? Are you lost Sensei?"

When Mizuki heard the voice, he turned around and when he saw the young blond he thought to himself "things just might work out a little better now." Naruto approaches his sensei and smiled at him.

"I can help if ya want! Whoa! What's that super big scroll?" Mizuki's eyes narrowed and in seconds a large fuma shuriken appeared in his hand and slammed into the spot Naruto had been standing. Had he not had the reflexes he possessed from his rigorous training he would have been killed. Naruto leapt back to create space, instinctively throwing a volley of shuriken at his foe. "So you really are a traitor" he wondered aloud. "Hopefully someone comes along to assist, but I'm not just gonna let you take off on the village like this. I'll keep you here until someone shows up."

"Ha! As if you could keep up with me demon brat!" Mizuki chuckled darkly, "you're weak in that form aren't you, monster fox?"

"Wait...monster..fox? Y-you mean the Nine Tails? Why? Why do you people all keep calling me that!? Do you know you bastard!? Tell me!" Naruto exclaimed, composure crumbling down under a tidal wave of emotion.

"It's simple you damn demon! Twelve years ago, when the Fourth Hokage fought the Nine Tailed Fox, he sealed it in you! You are the Nine Tails! You are the monster fox!" Mizuki began to cackle at Naruto's expression. "That's why they all hate you! Even Iruka, and now I'm gonna get rid of you for good!" He yelled laughing as the boy fell onto his rear in disbelief. He then wretched his arm back and launched his fuma shuriken.

"No!" A voice cried out and the dull thud and of steel impacting flesh rang through the small clearing. "It's true, there is a demon fox inside you. But you are it's jailor. You're no monster fox Naruto! You're a great student and I acknowledge you and your incredible talent, along with the immense potential you possess as a shinobi!" Iruka coughed up a bit of blood but smiled at him. Hunched over the boy with the large shuriken sticking out of his back. "You are Uzumaki Naruto of Konoha!"

"As heart warming as this is, it's time to die! Both of you!" Mizuki yelled out.

Naruto stood, laying Iruka down against a tree while removing the shuriken. "Rest now Iruka-sensei, I'll take things from here. Thank you."
That was when Iruka noticed the look of absolute determination and unshakable resolve the boy had on his face. He smiled at the blond.

"Good luck" Iruka said to him softly.

"Sensei, I make my own luck" the boy replied with a smile. "Oi! Bastard! If you lay one finger on my sensei ever again" Naruto pointed at his forehead with his thumb. "I'll kill you!"

"You can try fox!" Yelled Mizuki who charged at the boy. A volley of shuriken come his way but Naruto deflected them with his kunai. He then launched his own volley but of kunai, they flew toward Mizuki and the chuunin deflected all but one. Only to tilt his head to the side and avoid it. Then, the blond disappeared. Reappearing in his place was a kunai and Naruto's foot slammed into the older mans back. Stumbling Mizuki found himself about to fall right in front of the kunai from before, only to see it disappear and felt the boy's sandal plant itself in his face. The traitorous nin was launched backwards righting himself in time to see the young boy launch into a spin kick that planted itself firmly in Mizuki's chest slamming him into a tree. Eyes widened in shock the chunin thought to himself "how? How did he get so strong!? Rah, no matter I'll use the power Lord Orochimaru has given me and destroy this pest!" Mizuki's body was suddenly covered in black markings and his chakra began to flair up. Naruto's eyebrow rose in confusion.

"What's with this malevolent chakra?" The boy wondered to himself. But suddenly a loud chirping sound rang through the clearing and in a flash of blue light a hand rammed out of Mizuki's chest. The chunin coughed up blood and managed to get out a gurgled "wha..?" Before abruptly dying. His body slid off of the arm and landed on the ground. Naruto's gaze focused on the arm but slowly followed it up to its owner, a dog masked ANBU. "I-Inu? What are you doing here" Naruto was shocked but relieved to see the black ops nin.

"Hokage's orders." He stares blankly. He walked to Iruka and checked on him bandaging his back. He then stood to look at the young man, "you did well Naruto, be proud. Now stay with him while I go grab a medic, I'd rather not move him."

"Y-yes sir. Thank you." Naruto managed to get out straightening his stance out to look more presentable and the ANBU disappeared in a swirl of leaves . "One day I need to learn how to do that" he muttered to himself.

"Naruto..." the pained voice of Iruka came, "come here" he grunted as he fully sat himself up against the tree.

"What is it? Sensei you shouldn't move!" The boy knelt next to the chunin. A look of worry etched onto his face.

"You did well Naruto," Iruka said with a smile. "I have no doubt you'll make a great Hokage one day." And with that for the first time in at least three years, Naruto cried.

Taking the empty seat next to Sasuke, Naruto settled in for team assignments. Iruka entered and began a long speech. After that was finished Iruka smiled at his class. "Alright team assignments are as follows..." Naruto spaced out only listening only for his name. "...and Hinazuki Rikka. You guys are Team Two, your Jounin sensei will be Satomi Yuta."

"Ri...kka? Where have I heard that before?" Naruto questioned to himself. Unsure he thought on it longer but couldn't come up with anything for why he would recognize the name.

"...Team Seven, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruto. Your Jounin sensei will be Hatake Kakashi." Drawled out Iruka, who became suddenly surprised at Kakashi being a Jounin sensei.

"What the hell! I thought the worst and best in the class are supposed to be on the same team? Why's the second rank in with the rookie of the year? That's OP!" Kiba shouted out.

"Well after scores were taken, Sasuke and Naruto have tied for Rookie of the year. And it's a direct order from Lord Third Hokage." Kiba's eyes widened in shock and he slightly cowered in his seat at the tone. "Anything else Kiba?"

"No Sensei!" Kiba called out.

"Good. Team Eight is Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Hyūga Hinata. Your Jonin sensei will be Yuhi Kurenai." Iruka continued on in hopes of preventing any idle chatter. "Team Nine is still in service, so Team Ten will be Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji, and Yamanaka Ino. Your Jounin sensei will be Sarutobi Asuma." Wiping his brow in relief Iruka continued, "Alright! That's it. Everyone hang around and wait for your Sensei. I look forward to watching you each develop as a shinobi."

This was it! He was a ninja now, and he could finally know who his mother was! Naruto sprinted across rooftops headed for the Hokage tower. He earned these answers and he had every intention of getting them.

Finally arriving at the tower the boy walked in. Walking up to the secretary, someone who had never been bad to him but had always been indifferent. He put a big smile on his face and said "How's it going? Is Lord Third in a meeting?"

She grunted and replied "No he just got out of one, you can go up."

"Thanks a ton!" He said taking off up the stairs and right before bursting through the doors he stopped himself. He reminded himself, he was a genin now and he had duties and responsibilities to handle, as well as a reputation to uphold. "Time to go find out about mom" he thought to himself. To be honest he was nervous, but that wasn't gonna stop him. He grabbed the handle and turned.

The Hokage smiled as he sensed the boy standing behind the door, he was slightly surprised the boy didn't just throw them open. He heard a turn and a click, and watched the door open. The boy stepped into his office, a slight look of apprehension in his face that soon shifted to one of determination. Sarutobi smiled, this boy really was something. "I've a feeling your son is going to take the ninja world by storm, Minato."

"Hello Lord Hokage." Naruto said slowly approaching the desk.

"Ah good to see you Naruto boy. Please come take a seat. I assume you're here to find out about your mother, no?"

"Yes sir, I've been looking forward to it since you told me."

"Not only have you earned your headband and become a genin, but you also stopped a very important traitor. Which by the way will be added to your record as a B-rank mission. You will be paid accordingly." Hiruzen smiled at Naruto. "You've made fine progress, Naruto."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Naruto smiled back,"but I believe you know why I'm here?"

"Ah yes to learn of your mother. And no need to be so formal my boy, it's just us in here right now.

"Alright old man. So..what was her name?" Naruto asked.

Hiruzen stood turning around and staring out the window over the village. "Your mother's name was Uzumaki Kushina."

"Uzumaki…. Kushina? That's a beautiful name."
Naruto smiled at the Hokage's back.

"Aye my boy, a beautiful name it is. She was much more beautiful in person." Sarutobi sighed. "I wish with all my heart that she could be here to see you grow Naruto."

Naruto stared at the floor, he didn't really know what to say. "Do.. do you have a picture? Of her?" He heard the old Hokage sigh sadly and a drawer open. He looked up as a heard something slide across the desk toward him. Staring back at him was a beautiful red haired woman, smiling contently. "T-that's my mother? Uzumaki Kushina?"

"Yes." Sarutobi stated simply.

"Old man Hokage… did.. did she love me?" Naruto asked voice breaking and tears threatening to leak from his eyes.

"Your mother loved you more than anything on this planet. That I can say with absolute certainty." Sarutobi looked upon the boy with soft eyes. "Even in her last moments she thought of nothing but you, Naruto." Sarutobi sighed remembering the day he hated most in his long life.

Flashback

The Third Hokage arrived at the spot where the nine tails had last been, and what greeted him was a dead Hokage, his near death wife, and a small baby boy with whisker marks on his cheeks.

A jounin leaned over the body of Minato, "Lord Fourth!" Getting no response he realized he was dead.

At the same time another jounin lifted Kushina into a sitting position. "Lady Kushina!"

Ignoring the jounin Kushina spoke, "Third.."

Sarutobi was in front of her in a second, Naruto securely held in his arms. "Kushina…."

"Please look after...my child.. his name is….Naruto." She said shakily drawing small breaths. "Minato and I….took it from a novel...by Jiraiya-Sensei."

"Naruto…" Sarutobi said,"I'll remember. I'll take full responsibility," The Hokage looked down at the boy, continuing, "so please don't speak anymore...for his sake, too." However when he looked up again, Kushina was dead.

Flashback end.

"Old man.. how.. did she die?" Naruto asked sadly.

"Protecting you, directly from the Nine Tails. She gave her life for yours. She loved you so so much my boy." Sarutobi said softly.

Naruto smiled sadly, "do you have more pictures, did you know her, can you tell me about her?" The boy asked rapidly.

"Of course my boy." The Hokage smiled more brightly this time. And Naruto grinned in response. Little did they know they would spend the next four hours, chatting about Kushina. The office that had minutes before, been filled with an air of sadness, slowly turned into a room that was so cheerful even Sasuke would smile just by stepping inside.

Naruto was to be a real ninja soon. With knowledge of his mother and her Will of Fire, nothing could stop him, he would uphold her legacy to the highest of standards. He was ecstatic.

A/N

That's a wrap. Hopefully you enjoyed the story. Leave a review if you have any questions. I don't have a super active beta, so I apologize for any writing mistakes. If anyone has some talent drawing characters, please let me know I've got an OC I want to see come to life. Anyways, thanks for reading! Have a great day!