Deal

1914

A/N: There is no last name listed in the Naruto wiki that I could find for Mizuki. So, I didn't give him one.

Chapter 19

"Damn! What am I doing wrong? I just can't seem to fail the Demon Brat and his pathetic brother!" Mizuki shouted at the empty classroom, throwing a kunai at the back wall where the pair of troublemakers usually sat.

The class was over for the day and everyone had gone home. As the assistant instructor, he was just finishing up setting up the classroom for the next day's genin exams.

What he could not understand why everything he has tried failed. Why did strange things always happened to him and him alone? Couldn't anyone see that the pair were not worthy of being shinobi?

He had tried many things over the past week, from switching the written tests to mis-matching their sparring partners, but strange things happened. In one instance, Iruka accidentally spilled ink all over a test he had given the demon brat that only a jonin could pass. Of course, Iruka politely apologized before replacing the test with the correct one.

Another incident, Mizuki tried to place one of the larger and more brutal students to spar with the smaller Haku. Instead of winning, Mizuki, who had been refereeing, found himself kicked between the legs by a stray kick from the brute. Of course, the match was called and Mizuki had to see the medic.

The small brat wasn't even hurt.

Another time, the Inuzuka brat accidentally set fire to the desk that housed the finished unmarked tests and destroyed everything on said desk.

If it wasn't for the dog brat's crazy mother who was the Head of the Inuzuka clan, plus a member of the shinobi council, Mizuki would've expelled the feral brat and his little mutt too.

"What is happening to me!? The last few days, nothing seemed to go right!" he shouted, pulling at his hair. He stormed out of the classroom and headed for home. Of course, he didn't quite make it home unscathed.

The next morning, the most important day of all, the grey-haired instructor over-slept, as his alarm didn't go off on time. His shower was cold. He couldn't get his coffee maker to work. Plus, his uniform was missing a couple of snaps.

To save time, he took to the roof tops and nearly fell off one roof when he landed on some loose roof tiles. Then finally, when he thought he made it as he ran through the gates of the Academy, he slipped and fell into a pile of dog-poo and mud. Thus, he had been forced to return home to change, and therefore, was extremely late for class.

Iruka was already passing out the written exams to the students when he finally made it to the classroom.

Mizuki groaned. He knew he could not have done it last night, in case Iruka would have noticed. And this morning, he was too late and didn't have time to switch the exams without getting caught. Well, there was always grading afterwards.

The grey-haired instructor ended up spilling his much looked forward to morning break coffee all over the Headmaster in the staff room during the morning break. He had been ordered to run to the headmaster's house for a clean uniform as punishment. Of course, the headmaster's house was on the other side of the village.

When he returned, lunch was almost over. Iruka had started grading as he was eating at his desk. The Uzumaki brothers' tests were already in the graded pile. Mizuki ground his teeth in frustration.

There was still the practical part of the exams. The instructor gave a slow, feral smirk. He was a chunin and no pre-genin could defeat him in a spar.

Mizuki glared at the dark-haired, green-eyed boy smirking across from him in the sparring circle. He couldn't prove it, but he was convinced this brat caused all of his bad luck. However, this brat was going down and hard.

The shout of "Haijime!" broke him out of his dark thoughts. He was a chunin of the Hidden Leaf. He watched with a sadistic glee as Haku started with a fast flying round house kick. . .

Suddenly, he was staring up at the blue sky and seeing the sun peeking through the limbs of trees. 'What the hell!?'

The side of his face throbbed. Haru's bemused face came into view.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Haru smirked to himself. That'll teach the bastard right for trying to fail both him and his brother.

The young wizard hadn't had a chance to go all out in class before. One: he wasn't allowed, by their tou-san's decree. Since the first day, he and Naruto had noticed how weak their classmates were, and adjusted their fighting stance accordingly. Any fool could see that Mizuki-sensei had it out for his brother since the first day. The man is supposed to be a shinobi and he couldn't hide his intent? Baka!

He had talked it over with tou-san and Kakashi-niichan on what he should do.

Even with the bad luck jinx Haru had cast the second day of class, the teacher just hadn't gotten the memo. He and his brother weren't to be messed with. At least, he had his father's permission to use the jinx and nothing else.

"Winner, Haru! Mizuki-sensei, are you able to continue?" came the shocked voice of Iruka-sensei, as he motioned out of the circle.

The concerned teacher didn't see the evil grin on Haru's face as he returned to his brother's side, but many of their classmates did.

Mizuki gave a groan as he covered the side of his face, sitting up. Was he able? Kami Yes! He needed to put that demon brat in his place, once and for all!

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Minato, Kakashi and Sirius were standing in a nearby tree watching the tests. Sirius laughed at the fallen teacher. In the surrounding trees, were Minato's Anbu guards, who were also watching the matches with amused interest.

The guards knew that the boys were the Fourth's son and were sworn to secrecy. This was a rare treat, to see what the Fourth had taught them. So far, the boys hadn't disappointed. There was a rumor that the black-hair boy had a strange kekkei genkai which they hope to see in action.

"Seems Haru's jinx is still working," Sirius chuckled, leaned back against the tree's trunk. He made sure that the sticking charms would keep him from falling.

Kakashi leaning on another branch with an orange book in his hands. "I can't believe you allowed him to place it on a chunin instructor. Even one as incompetent as Mizuki."

Minato sighed, taking the hand that was covering his eyes away. "True, but reports are that Mizuki-chunin failed his entrance exam to become a fully qualified teacher. He has a chance to improve and with experience, he could become a full teacher. However, if he cannot handle eager and mischievous pre-genin, then he really shouldn't be teaching. Plus, according to my sons, Mizuki-chunin seems to want to sabotage their education. That was why I allowed Haku's jinx."

There was an explosion on the sparring field and a cry of pain, causing the watchers to wince.

"If anyone can get under anyone's skin, it's Haru," Minato continued. If not for the fact Haru was adopted, he would say his son inherited Kushina's personality. "He is very much his birth parents' son. Haru is good at bringing out the worse or the best in people."

"That he is," Sirius agreed, wiping a fake tear from his eye. "I'm so proud of him." Suddenly, he winced as the grey-haired instructor once more found himself face down in the dirt. He didn't really pity the man from what the boys have been saying about him. This time, it wasn't clear if Mizuki-sensei lost on the student's own merit or if the jinx happened. It was easy to see that Mizuki-sensei was in for a miserable day.

Kakashi just gave a soft 'hn' as settled back against his tree, waiting for Naruto's turn. He trained with those boys and knew what they were capable of. He didn't feel sorry for the instructors, if they fail to notice how much potential his little 'brothers' had.

Minato, too, was very proud of his boys. Haru, if he wanted, would have a brilliant career in T&I. Naruto was so much like his mother, that he would also have a brilliant career in Infiltration. However, with their magical bond and the Kyubi, those careers that might be impossible. There was time to research the possibilities.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Mizuki growled under his breath as both Uzumaki brats walked out the Academy with their hitai-ate tied across their forehead. How? How?

In class, neither brats displayed this level of competence. How was this possible!? They had to have cheated!

It was mid-afternoon as the grey-haired chunin made his way to the Hokage Tower. A special announcement was going to be made. His mind was still on how the brats passed their exam.

They cheated somehow, and he was going to prove it. Somehow. He needed a plan to show them that the brats were not worthy to be shinobi.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Unknown to Mizuki, the subjects of his ire were watching him with interest.

Staring down at the frustrated instructor from a nearby roof top, Naruto scowled. "He really did want us to fail, didn't he?"

Haku nodded as he sat on the rim of the building. "Why do you think I kept the jinx on him? There's no way I was going to let him fail us for whatever reason he has in that twisted mind of his."

"So how long are you going to keep the jinx on him?" came a voice from behind them.

The two looked over to see Sirius and Kakashi coming closer to peer down at the irate instructor, who was seemed to be looking for someone.

Haku shrugged. "Not sure. If I don't reapply it, it should fade in about two more days."

"I would let it fade," Kakashi commented, closing his orange covered book. "Your father's announcement is today, and after that, it won't matter."

"Speaking of the announcement, you both need to head over soon. Your father will be looking for you," Sirius said, peering over the rim.

"Right!" the boys agreed as they stood.

As the two boys were ready to enter the Hokage Tower they heard their names being called.

A mud splattered Mizuki-sensei ran up to them. The pair fought down the urge to laugh at the jinxed instructor as he approached. "I've been looking everywhere for you two."

"Yes. Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto asked, giving Haku a side-way glance.

"I know you two passed your exams but I have a challenge for you. If you do it, you'll be hailed as heroes."

Haku frowned a bit. "We're listening."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A/N: This is a natural stopping point. I could continue but what happens next is its own chapter and from my calculations the next chapter may be the last. We shall see.

Until next time. - GF

Baka – fool, moron, stupid

hitai-ate – forehead protector that the shinobi wear to show which village they belong to.

kekkei genkai – bloodline limit, an anomaly in the DNA that allows the wielder to use unique techniques that only can be passed down through family.

Kami – god(s)