Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, if I did, I wouldn't have to go through college. Every character belongs to Kishimoto unless they are my own OCs.
"Talk"
"Thoughts"
"Bijuu, summons"
Jutsu
AN: I'm not very skilled in fighting scenes as I often skip them while reading. Oops.
"Please stand up Naruto-kun, Kakashi. Take off your masks as well you won't be needing them for the next mission" said the Hokage. They did as told and took off their masks. Hiruzen couldn't believe how his grandchild in all but blood has grown both in size and as a ninja. He could still remember the small kid running around the village.
"As we all know here a certain Uchiha Sasuke turned really bad since his brother killed his family. Inoichi and I are sure he shouldn't be let into the ninja program, but the council tries to push him through. Kakashi, Naruto-kun this mission entails you to become normal ninja. Kakashi you are going to be their team sensei. Naruto-kun you are to pose as a genin. Your team is going to be composed of yourselves, Sasuke and Yamanaka Ino."
Getting apprehensive looks from both of them he continued. "This team is made entirely to keep the Uchiha from doing something stupid. Ino doesn't know it though but her clan skills will be useful in knowing what happens in the head of the boy. Secondly her father, Inoichi, wants you, Naruto, to set her straight."
Ino was Inoichi's daughter? The sly fox never mentioned it. Oh well he helped him so many times that doing him a favor wouldn't hurt. As the Sandaime ended the mission detail and told them the pay of an A-rank to both of them every two weeks as well as what they earned on missions both of them quit the office.
"So Kakashi-sensei what are you planning to do? You can go full out on missions, but I'm supposed to be a lowly genin. I know that you are going to test us even if we must succeed anyway because of the council."
"Don't worry just don't put too much of a show. After all you were an apprentice from the age of eight right. As for the test it's the bell test I told you before. If they don't cooperate, I will give them to you to make it seem like at least you want to work together." Kakashi replied with mirth in his voice.
They quit the building and went their ways. Naruto went home and sat next to Anko on the sofa sighing.
"What's going on Naruto-kun? The mission didn't go well?"
"No, it went perfectly. It's the mission itself, Kakashi and I are to babysit the Uchiha "prince". I'm supposed to work as a genin. A fucking genin when I can destroy strategic points of entire armies myself earning an S-rank in demolition division. Now I should barely be able to hold a kunai. At least the pay is good." He ranted to which Anko patted his head to then put more oil into the fire.
"Don't forget about the D-ranks" she reminded him with a smirk to which Naruto thought he was going to cry. At least he team placements were in a few hours.
Naruto made his way to the academy in his normal clothes leaving the ANBU gear in the HQ in case he was called for emergencies. He put up his cloth mask and went inside the classroom which was empty for the moment. He may have a painful mission right now, but he would still play with the Uchiha boy. He seemed to forget they were the same age.
People began entering the room noticing the new arriving member, but no one tried to speak to him because of the aura that he exuded that said, 'don't talk to me'. The class was finally full, and the teacher came in.
At this moment Sasuke, against his judgement, wanted to show his dominance over the new kid. He was an 'elite' after all. He came to Naruto who was laughing with Kurama about what was going to happen. Sasuke opened his big mouth and spoke.
"What's your name?"
"I'm gay" Naruto replied
"I'm gay, fight me!" Sasuke didn't catch what he said until it hit him when everybody was keeping in the laughter until everybody burst out and Sasuke went back to his place to stare at the wall. Naruto gave a mental high-five to Kurama.
Iruka composed himself from the scene, this was the supposed guy that would fill one of the teams. He did his speech of proudness and will of fire and began naming the teams "Team 7 will be Sasuke Uchiha, Ino Yamanaka and what? Uzumaki Naruto!?"
At this moment Naruto took off his mask showing his whisker marks and gave Iruka a friendly wave "Long time no see sensei, yeah since you guys missed a member for the teams I was recalled from my apprenticeship"
Ino was ecstatic, two good looking guys on her team, she needed to know more about Naruto at this moment, she would question him later though.
Iruka continued a bit baffled "Your sensei will be Hatake Kakashi. Next, team eight will be Hinata Hyuuga, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame with Kurenai Yuhi as your teacher. Team nine still exists. Team ten will be Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi and Sakura Haruno with Asuma Sarutobi as your sensei. That will be all, they will be here to get you in around fifteen minutes."
The teams sat down together trying to chat, but everyone was too nervous thinking about their future. Soon the teachers started coming in. Kurenai and Asuma came in together with Kurenai having a glow around her. Naruto waved at them.
"Hey Kurenai-nee Asuma-sensei"
"Naruto-kun!" "Naruto" they said in unison they both knew why he was here "We would love to talk more to you, but we have our teams to meet, see you later" told Kurenai giving him a goodbye wave. Before she could leave Ino asked Naruto how he knew them. Kurenai wanted to see what Naruto would tell about her.
"Kurenai-nee was my sensei before I was forced to be in the team." He answered. Sasuke wanted to put Naruto down for his earlier stunt and said "I bet she's as weak as you are" out loud. Asuma wanted to put the kid down but Naruto beat him to it. He strolled down the aisle until he was in front of Sasuke and then bitch slapped him across the face.
"That's your first education lesson. Do not speak down to your superiors." He calmly said and went to Kurenai and Asuma to apologize about his "teammate". When they left, he went back to his seat. The Hokage made him babysit the brat so he did.
The class soon emptied leaving only the Team 7 waiting in the room. Sasuke still had the hand imprint on his face and seethed because he couldn't do anything about it because there were two jonins to incriminate him.
Ino started losing her calm in this atmosphere and went to Naruto to get some info about him. "So, Naruto what have you been doing out of the academy?"
He couldn't say the truth but could offer some insight to not appear rude to the girl, she was Inoichi's daughter after all.
"I trained under Kurenai-nee and two of her friends sometime. I became a shinobi a bit before you and I've been on some missions. Our teacher won't be coming for at least two hours, I'm going out if he comes earlier tell him that I will be at the usual spot" before he could leave Ino grabbed his arm and asked if she could come with him. He didn't see any problem with it Sasuke would stay anyway if Kakashi comes back earlier.
They went to Naruto's house. Opening the door, he saw Anko's boots, so he screamed "Anko-nee, I'm home with a teammate, so in case you are once again in your underwear put at least the bath robe." This made Ino blush a bit, it was the first time she was in a boy's house.
"Naruto just give me a minute I'm in the bathroom" they heard Anko reply and a moment later she came down in a bath robe with still wet hair. "My Naru-kun has brought a girl home already, you grow up so fast" she mock cried and wiped a tear.
"Not funny Anko-nee, she really is just a teammate, after all, we met for the first time in about five years. Kakashi-sensei is late as usual, so I came in to grab a bite" this made Ino sadden a bit, she wasn't even a friend for the moment. Well she could only blame herself because she never talked to him.
They went to the kitchen and Naruto asked Ino if she wanted something to eat. She didn't because she was on a diet. He sighed, he would have to beat it out of her soon but it could wait for now.
While he was cooking some simple fried chicken, Anko took out a cold beer out of the fridge. They seemed so comfortable around each other from Ino's point of view. She started asking her questions
"You called Kurenai-sensei, Kurenai-nee before and now Anko-san, Anko-nee. Are you all related?"
"It's Anko or Anko-chan brat. I'm too young to become a san. And no, we are not related. We are all really close friends to the point where Naruto became our family in all but blood. That's why we live together." Anko answered
"It's Ino, not brat"
"Yeah I know you are Inoichi's daughter. For now, you are still a brat to me kiddo, until you prove to me that you are a real kunoichi" she took another sip of beer. That meant that Naruto has already proven himself to her.
The afternoon went calmly with Ino and Naruto chatting and bonding over some tea. It was time to go back to the academy. Naruto didn't feel like running so he grabbed Ino's hand and Shunshinned them both in front of the class.
Sasuke was still in the same position as when they left. It had to be some record for staying still for so long. Did he even blink? They weren't sure. Five minutes later a silver haired man came inside.
"You are my kids now, meet me at the roof" Kakashi would pay for that.
Naruto took Ino's hand and Shunshinned once again them both to the roof leaving a baffled Sasuke seeing the supposed weak link of the team using it. He lifted his butt from the seat and went to the stairs himself.
When he arrived, his team was casually chatting waiting for his arrival. He positioned himself on the stairs and assumed his preferred position.
"Now my cute little genin why don't you introduce yourselves" Kakashi said with a visible mirth at the word genin to which Naruto gained a tick mark on his forehead. "You first mister stay-still"
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha, I don't have many likes and have a lot of dislikes. I have an ambition to kill someone and restore my clan" He was really good at keeping still. He said it all without his body moving a millimeter.
"You forgot to tell that you are gay, as you so proudly said this morning" Naruto said with a snicker. He didn't have to antagonize him that much but the Hokage forced him into this mission and he was going to take all possibilities to have fun.
"Now you blondie" Kakashi continued
"Which one?" Naruto and Ino asked
"The platinum one"
"Ehem. My name is Ino Yamanaka. I like my family, fashion, gardening and I think Naruto here would be a good friend. I dislike Sakura and perverts. My dream is to make my father proud of me." She said smiling at Naruto, he gave her a good first impression.
"The sunny one for the last"
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto. I like training, ramen, my nee-chans, ramen, one of my teammates, ramen. I dislike perverts, people that don't strive to better themselves, people who don't understand fuinjutsu and one late dog" he said the last part with the same mirth that Kakashi used for the word genins before.
"Oh is my Naru-kun warming up to girl his age finally." Kurama teased her host internally to which Naruto just growled mentally.
"Why don't you do introduce yourself sensei" Naruto said. Ino was starting to feel some tension between her teacher and the fellow blonde. Even if she didn't understand why.
"I will try. I'm Hatake Kakashi. I have a few dislikes and you are too young to learn about my likes and dreams." They didn't learn anything. Or at least Sasuke and Ino didn't since Naruto worked with him many times.
"That's all for today meet me at 7AM at training ground 7. I advise you to not eat before or you are going to puke" Kakashi said and Shunshinned somewhere.
"Waking up so early isn't good for my skin, though not eating shouldn't be a problem since I never do it in the morning for my diet" said Ino to her teammates. Naruto couldn't listen to it anymore, the girl would kill herself if she continued like that.
"Ino we need to have a serious talk about what you just said. Come with me I will show you what I mean, no isn't a possible answer." Ino was puzzled at the change of her blonde brethren, but she followed him anyway. They ended up in a bar only for the shinobi. That way if anything happened while drunk the civilians weren't hurt.
Inside they found out Kurenai, Yugao, Anko, Asuma and Hayate chatting and sipping alcohol. They have seen each other and before Ino knew she was already talking with some jonins. How did Naruto know all of them?
"So, Naruto what do you wanted to talk about before?" she asked
"Anko-nee, Kurenai-nee, Yugao-nee can you stand up for me for a second?" they didn't see why but they did anyway "Ino look closely and tell me do you think that they would be what guys would call hot?" This made Ino blush and all of the adults look critically at Naruto
"Does our Naruto-kun feel attracted to his sisters?" asked Yugao looking at him. Asuma and Hayate looked at him wanting to know as well if he had a sister complex. Truly they wouldn't even be surprised by it.
"No, the only attraction I feel to the three of you is the gravity every body with mass produces." He shot her down making everyone else chuckle "now Ino answer my question."
"You are kidding right? They are gorgeous I want to look like them."
"Nee-chans how much do you eat daily?"
"At least 7000 calories, 10 000 if on a mission day"
"Around 9000"
"Around 9000 as well"
Ino eyes widened listening at these numbers, these were the numbers a bodybuilder wouldn't even eat yet these three sexy looking ladies ate that.
"You see Ino our chakra production and training make us burn calories at a very high rate. A civilian would become obese with our type of diets. Your diet is the contrary to our own. You eat so few calories that your puberty will be stunted and instead of growing like my nee-chans you will become flat as a board or if you drop your intake you will simply die. And you don't want to feel that I assure you" He said the last part so quietly that it was barely audible. Ino was asking herself what he meant by that.
She looked at the jonins around her and did something she never thought she would. She went to the bar and asked for the biggest burger they served. She struggled but ate all of it taking to heart what was said.
"Good job kiddo, you just got yourself one step out of being a brat" said Anko. A praise of a jonin felt so good to her ears "To give you a hint the next step would be to start training to make yourself an example for other kunoichi."
"See Ino everybody wants to help you here. Take their advice and make yourself better one step at the time. At last most of the kunoichi are already at least pretty and you have what it takes in face department. Since Anko-nee is drinking I guess that she won't be up tomorrow until noon. I will come to your house at 8AM and make you a nutritious breakfast because I bet you don't know what to eat now. Don't worry Kakashi-sensei is always late at least two hours we will have the time." Naruto said oblivious to the looks of the adults were giving him.
"Thank you Naruto-kun" she answered adding kun to Naruto's name before they realized the looks they were given.
"Our Naru-chan doesn't like his sisters because we aren't blondes. I would hurry up Anko-chan or Naru-chan will find a special someone before you" said Kurenai, the trio could only blush at the laughs that were directed at them.
"We should go Ino, the bar will change to full drinking mode and we aren't old enough to stay. Goodbye everyone. I will come fetch Anko at 1AM like always" making Anko blush even harder. Who was the real adult in their house?
Naruto brought Ino home where her father mouthed a 'thank you' to Naruto seeing her daughter so happy. He was even more thankful when she asked for extra training even if it would break her. She had long arrears in her career.
Like Naruto said he went to the bar at 1AM to fetch for Anko who had drunk a bit too much. He Shunshinned them to the house taking off her clothes and putting her to bed. He went to his own ready for tomorrow since he knew what Kakashi planned.
Next morning Naruto knocked on the Yamanaka's house door. The one to open was Inoichi who did take Naruto aside for the moment
"Why are here so early Naruto-kun? And what did you do to my daughter she asked for a big meal and training yesterday?"
"It's simple I brought her to talk with nee-chans who showed her the real meaning of being a kunoichi. And for my presence Kakashi will give us the bell test and I know that she doesn't know how to make a proper breakfast. I proposed to make her one yesterday and she agreed."
"Thank you, you don't know what it means to me to see my princess to take her career seriously. Now come in she's already waiting"
Naruto came inside and have seen Ino checking her gear for the day. She didn't wear any make-up and Naruto had to say that she was much prettier without it. He went to the kitchen after saying hello to Ino. Fifteen minutes later she was served eggs and bacon. When she finished, he took out a cake full of slow carbs yet equally as delicious as a normal one.
"I will make you a breakfast everyday now until you learn what to eat to have plenty of energy. I will tell you if you will have to come to my house or I will come to yours. Don't worry about it." Inoichi was looking from behind a corner at the scene, he couldn't be happier for the moment seeing Naruto do the favor he asked and more.
"We should get going, Kakashi-sensei will probably arrive in about 20 minutes. Remember we will probably need to work as a team, if Sasuke disagrees just work with me." He told her having a feeling that he forgot about something.
When they arrived at the training ground, he remembered what he forgot. Sasuke was sitting under a tree, his face a bit green and bags under his eyes. That was it, he forgot to tell him about the meeting real time and to eat. Doesn't matter anyway. He chatted with Ino about what she could do to improve. He didn't care why she wanted to do it if she did.
Kakashi finally graced them with their presence seeing that Naruto and Ino were lively and not hungry at all, on the contrary Sasuke was sitting under the tree looking as if he was going to die any moment. Maybe it would force him to work with the team. If not, they always had a back-up plans.
Kakashi eye smiled at his students and walked near them. "We are going to have a test today, the real genin test. What you had at the academy was just an exam to see if you have more than three braincells. You will have to get those two bells off me before noon. The person that doesn't get them will be sent back to academy. Now 3..2..1.. GO!"
As soon as he said it Naruto grabbed Ino and ran to hide. Sasuke though stayed in the field looking at Kakashi straight in the eyes.
"Now, now Sasuke. You should have done the same that your teammates did, you would have more chance if you ambushed me. After all you are only a genin." Kakashi said while opening his orange book. Sasuke thought he was the one being taunted but the real victim was Naruto who promised death in great suffering to Kakashi.
"I don't need an ambush I am an elite of the shinobi" Sasuke proudly said. Kakashi could only curse the council for giving the boy such a megalomaniac view on life.
"You see Sasuke just by staying here proves you are not an 'elite' as you like to call yourself. A real elite would look for any opening like Naruto did when he ran before I said go and brought his teammate doubling their chances of survival."
Sasuke seethed at being put down and rushed at Kakashi at an impressive for a genin speed. But compared to his brother or the powerhouse he had on the team it was nothing, he just had to keep his eye off the book to not take a single hit.
Meanwhile Naruto and Ino observed the situation. Naruto was cursing Kakashi in his mind and Kurama was having a giggling fit at his expense.
"This idiot is going to kill us all. Wait no if it plays right, we can salvage this situation. Ino will you work with me? If I get a bell, I will give it to you and go back to apprenticeship." He lied to her, but this was the protocol. She nodded, he already helped her so much she would give the favor back.
"That's what we are going to do…" he explained her the plan he had made according to what Kakashi was doing.
Soon enough the occasion arose. Kakashi bound Sasuke to a tree after having enough of this useless battle. He went back to a rock to sit down and enjoy his "fine" literature. As soon as he sat down a smoke bomb went off as well as kunai sailed to him.
He caught it with ease but the sizzling sound at its bottom unnerved him. The exploding tags were just about to explode. He did a swift Kawarimi. Naruto really wanted to kill him for the taunts before. He was glad that Naruto couldn't go full bananas on his ass with the onlookers.
He looked around to see Ino cutting Sasuke free. He wanted to throw a kunai at her, but something stopped him.
"I won't let you Futon: Daitoppa" he pushed Kakashi back making a smoke screen out of the dust. He jumped straight in with two kunais.
"Kakashi we have a problem, if Sasuke agrees to our plan I feel he's going to try to incinerate us both with his katon jutsu. If he does that you won't be able to make a lie good enough to make us pass for the teamwork" Naruto said while striking the kunais in his hands, it was a stupid and effective method to simulate the sound of battle.
"I had a plan for that, just be sure to remember the third law of the ANBU code."
"The life of your friends is more valuable than your own" they both said
"Okay Kakashi now kick me out of here and do what you have to do. Fast before the dust falls!"
Naruto flew out of the plume of dust making his fall even more dramatic to accentuate the strength difference. If he ever wanted to quit being ninja, he would become an actor for sure. He sensed what happened. Kakashi came out of the woods with an unconscious Sasuke and a wiggling Ino.
"These games tire me. I will give you a chance you or her? If you don't kill yourself, I will kill Ino and then seal Sasuke's chakra for good. At least he will make a good breeding stock." Kakashi making a Chidori to show his point.
Naruto didn't hesitate, he took one of his kunai and plunged it in his abdomen. He was sure that Kakashi would stop him millimeters away, but no, this bastard let him stab himself. He was going to fuck his life up so much that even his mother wouldn't recognize him.
Ino was too shocked of what has just happened. Her new friend has just killed himself to protect her. She felt so weak seeing Naruto fall to the ground. She wiggled herself free and ran to him.
"Kakashi-sensei why? Please help him." She cried but before she could finish Naruto was already taken by Kakashi to the hospital.
"Come with Sasuke to the hospital in a few hours, I will give you a response for that."
Meanwhile Naruto has just closed his wound with the Yang and whispered to Kakashi "I will hurt you so bad you bastard. I will ask Anko-nee to lend me her torture tools. I would sleep with one eye open from now on if I were you." Kakashi gulped knowing that Naruto was capable of doing it. Maybe he really pushed it too far?
A few hours later Ino came to the hospital with Sasuke. She had to almost beg him to come but finally he relented. Her eyes were red and puffy seeing time and again the scene of Naruto plunging a kunai into his stomach to save her.
She came inside Naruto's room who had useless bandage over his non existing wound. Kakashi was on his bedside reading his orange book. Ino seeing this seethed in anger not understanding how their teacher could be so insane and insensitive. Little did she know that she was in the presence of two insane ANBUs.
"Naruto-kun are you alright? How are you feeling. I'm so sorry for being so weak" she rushed to him. Naruto felt bad for making her this worried, but he didn't have a choice that time.
"Yeah I'm alright Ino. I missed any vital organs on purpose, they only had to stitch me up a bit. Don't worry about being weak. Nobody begins strong. The fact that you see that you need more training is a proof of your strength already." He said with a smile which lifted her spirits.
"Now Kakashi-sensei why did you let Naruto stab himself? And now you are here like nothing happened?" she screamed at Kakashi
"That's because Naruto found out the true meaning of the test, it was about teamwork. You listened to him but Sasuke didn't even want to hear any explication, right?" she nodded her head. It was as he always knew what they were doing in the forest.
"You see Naruto became a shinobi before you and already went on some missions outside the village. He understands what the Will of Fire means. He didn't hesitate one moment to sacrifice himself for his teammates and I needed you to see it in the first place. My late friend once told me 'the one who breaks rules are scum but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum'. Naruto did exactly that, he preferred to forgo the rules of mission completion for your sake. Learn from this experience and get your understanding of the Will of Fire." He let them ponder that for a bit Ino seemed to understand what Naruto has done as for Sasuke he thought that Naruto should sacrifice his lowly life for himself.
"Now that this explanation is done, because of Naruto you all pass! Meet me tomorrow at noon to let Naruto heal his wounds" Kakashi said and quit the building through the door to get the newest Icha-Icha. The truth was Kakashi would sleep now in case Naruto exacted his vengeance. Sasuke followed his suit.
"Naruto-kun, are you sure you are alright? You stabbed yourself pretty deep."
"Don't worry Ino. I heal very fast and with the help of medic-nin I will be up by tomorrow. Now get something to eat and train. If you need some help you can come back or ask Anko-nee if she's home." He told her shooing her out. It wouldn't be good for her to lose the motivation she got just before.
She went out and Naruto planned his vendetta against Kakashi. If he had to be serious the plan was already in action.
Time skip 1 week
Naruto came with Ino to the training ground chatting as usual about how she had gotten better with her father's help. Soon Kakashi came in as well. He looked really bad. His face was green and had huge bags under his eyes. This was Naruto's plan, he wouldn't hurt Kakashi directly. Every night he would send a clone to Kakashi's house. The clone would hit the wall, open the lock or the window making Kakashi always on the edge to the point that he wouldn't sleep for three days now, too scared of his student.
"Hello Kakashi-sensei, slept well?" Naruto asked making sure to mock Kakashi for his sleep deprivation. Kakashi could only growl, he knew it was Naruto all the time, but he could never catch the culprit. He asked himself what would come first. Naruto would stop or he would go insane? Naruto wasn't sure either.
Other than that, Sasuke didn't want to acknowledge his teammates even if in spars he would get his ass handed to him by Naruto who kept his level just above his. The experience was the key here, Naruto played dirty while Sasuke thought he was too good to do that.
Naruto made sure that Kakashi trained them properly especially Ino since she needed it the most. Else he would either spar with her from time to time or cook for her in the mornings. He finally made a friend his age. Even if Anko and Kurama teased him about her, he didn't have this type of feelings for her. His sisters only made bets for the amount of time he would need to develop them.
They began their training in the morning with some simple chakra control and light spars, then there was the power and cardio. Ino was thankful to Naruto for making her eat right or he would be dead by now. Checking herself out, he was right she didn't get fat or even bulky. Just her bones weren't sticking out like before.
The training ended and their missions would begin. They all hated the D-ranks but at least it gave them some pocket cash for just a few hours of labor. Right now, they were picking out weeds from a field when suddenly Naruto found a hatch. Thinking back, he knew where they were, it was one of Orochimaru's lairs.
Naruto ran fast to Kakashi making a clone so nobody enters it. Why has Hokage still not cleared all of them in case a civilian went inside. Kakashi sprinted to the Hokage with the news.
"Hokage-sama, urgent problem on my mission." Hiruzen would make a joke out of it but seeing the serious eye of Kakashi he restrained himself.
"What is it Kakashi?"
"Check the map of the Orochimaru's labs and our mission position." Kakashi said and Hokage's eyes became large as saucers. This lair was scheduled to be dismantled in a month, yet they approved of a mission there.
"Kakashi return you team immediately, make Naruto sets a perimeter, ANBU will come to clear things out. You can tell your team about it. Now go fast." Kakashi Shunshinned to his team as fast as he could.
"Everyone gather here, Naruto make a perimeter around the hatch with the clones. Now everybody listen and don't repeat anything to anybody. The place we are in is one of the greatest traitor's lab, Orochimaru's lab. He did unspeakable experiments down there to obtain great power. I'm telling you about it because the Hokage thinks you need to understand the dark side of the Shinobi world." Kakashi said.
Ino was shocked, if even Kakashi-sensei didn't want to go down there it had to be something horrible. In Sasuke's head a dark thought arose. If this Orochimaru had this power maybe he could help him kill his brother.
"Kakashi-sensei I have a question. It was Naruto who found the hatch. How did he know about it?" asked Ino. She has just proved that the Hokage was right to put her on this team. Maybe she wasn't strong enough yet but, her psychology and mind were sound.
"That's because I was the one to give the Hokage the intel about their locations. When I was little, I found the cleanest of them that served him as the library, and I used it as my hideout. I needed cash one time, so I traded the information for it with Ji-chan." Naruto answered the question. There was only one question, why would Naruto need a hideout? She didn't want to ask about it yet. Maybe her parents would give her some insight.
Later that day Ino came back from her team meeting, her father was already waiting for her thinking she would want to train, instead she just sat down on the sofa gathering her thoughts to ask the questions about her favorite sunny blonde. Didn't matter he was the only one in the village.
"Tou-chan can I ask you something?"
"Of course, dear."
"Naruto told us today that when he was little, he had a refuge in one of Orochimaru's labs since he was little. Why would he need it?" this question made Inoichi frown, it wasn't his story to tell but he would give her some hints about it.
"Ino-chan how does Naruto travel throughout the village?"
"He always uses the Shunshin, I rarely have seen him take a walk. But what's so strange about it most of the ninja do the same."
"Yes, most of the veterans when in a hurry, else they would juts use their legs like normal people. You see Naruto isn't the most liked person in the village. Some things… happened, when he was little, and he found himself in need of a place where he could remain hidden. I can't tell you anything more, it's not my story to tell. Maybe one day he will open up to you."
This only presented more questions. What did Naruto do for the village to hate him? What really happened to him? She couldn't ask anyway because they weren't friends for that long.
Time skip 1 month
They have just caught Tora the demon. The beast that scared every shinobi worse than the Kyuubi herself. Looking at it Ino could see why, Sasuke was just badly scratched on his face and have thrown the cat to Naruto.
Naruto forced it into submission with his killing intent. Ino was almost sure she has seen his eyes change color for a moment.
Speaking about Ino and Sasuke their relationship lessened to a point below zero. In the academy she thought he was cool and fought with Sakura for his heart. But now having him as a teammate showed her how much different he was. He was a megalomaniac who didn't acknowledge anyone not even their sensei. This view was only enforced by interacting with the cheerful Naruto.
They were going to the Hokage to give back the cat and get their last mission for today. Naruto was holding the cat and was petting it while it was still scared of him. He has seen Ino's gloomy face looking at him.
He poked her in the ribs making her gasp. And she poked him back. He would always do it when she had this gloomy face. It all started when she asked her father about Naruto. She wanted to find out anything and strolled asking people around what they thought about him. She remembered every answer as they were mostly one worded.
"Monster"
"Disgusting"
"Freak"
"Why is he still alive?"
Now Ino understood why he never walked in the village. She wouldn't be able to take it. What has made them hate him that much? She would ask him one day.
They continued the poking until they arrived before the Hokage. Kakashi said that the mission was accomplished, and they wanted another one until Sasuke barged in.
"Hokage-sama, I want something else. An Uchiha shouldn't have to do these menial tasks. I want to prove myself. I want a real mission." Hiruzen unlike the council didn't sugarcoat everything with the boy. He blasted his KI and said.
"Genin Uchiha are you giving orders to me?!"
"No Hokage-sama!" answered Sasuke thankful that his bladder was empty or else he would have a stain on his pants right now.
"Kakashi do you think you team is ready for a C-rank?"
"Don't worry, Hokage-sama. I think they are ready, and we can handle it." He said showing Naruto with his eye. Hiruzen understood what he meant by that. Having two ANBU captains on the team would make sure that the others lived.
"Bring Tazuna in!"
Inside came an old man reeking of booze and pure stink. "I asked you for ninjas not some kids and a one-eyed scarecrow. Especially this one who looks as if he's going to piss himself."
Sasuke gained a tick mark, Kakashi and Naruto just sighed at the man as Ino glared at him.
"Maa, maa. The kids here are plenty strong for a C-rank. At worst I'm a jonin so I will protect you" "Naruto as well so no problem" he added in his head.
"Your mission will begin in three days. Kakashi, Naruto stay for the moment please." Sasuke wanted to stay as well but his instincts told him not to.
"So how is it going with Sasuke?" he asked
"He shouldn't be a ninja if you ask me. He will kill himself or his teammates on the field if this continues." Said Naruto and Hiruzen sighed knowing that he couldn't do much without the council trying something. He was too old for this shit.
"What about you other blonde?"
"Thanks to Naruto she started eating and training as a true kunoichi. We train her both even if Naruto just spars with her and gives her pointers. She will become a good one if she continues that way." Said Kakashi
"Good, good. Now to the serious matter, our ANBU gave us intel about the true reason of this mission. It's not a C-rank but should be considered an A-rank. The truth is that Gato is ruling the country and hired some nukenins to kill the builder as well as building a fortress on a strategic point of the land. Ushi, Inu you are to go to wave country, it's an A-rank. You are going to destroy it and gather intel on Gato, we can't have him dead right now you will kill him on your mission with team 7. Dismissed"
Evening
Naruto and Kakashi made some clones to pose as themselves to not attract any suspicions from the team. Right now, they were just crossing the border to the Land of Wave in the direction of the fortress. They remembered their mission in Mizu but this time this was a simple one. There were only bandits instead of seasoned ninjas. Naruto didn't want to waste time and took out the big artillery.
Making Kakashi throw him into the air he did a mass of clones. They charged Yin in their fingers and shot lasers of Yin at the castle screaming "Yin Bombardment". It was a six months ago that Naruto found a way to keep the Yin laser type of attack coalesced. He did it by making the weak point in the front thus when it hit, it made explosions of yin at the target.
Naruto landed in the now melting castle seeing all the goons dead all around either from the explosions or the burning effect of this attack. He still felt kind of bad seeing what he could do with human lives, but he remembered his first talk with Inoichi.
"Ushi that was under 15 seconds. I think you have just beaten your last record. Now let's hurry we don't have much time before our team goes on the mission."
They sprinted towards Gato's villa. It was Kakashi's time to shine since he was in the assassination and information department of ANBU. He positioned himself in the ceiling of Gato's office and started the recording. Soon Gato entered inside with Zabuza and a hunter-nin.
"Are you sure your subordinates will do the job?"
"Probably, if not I will welcome them myself." He said with a chuckle and quit the room.
"This idiot is so gullible, if he doesn't kill them the first time, I will send my army to kill him or the bridge builder escorts"
"That should be enough, time to go back to the team and send the transcript to Hokage-sama".
Naruto and Kakashi changed back into their normal clothesbecause they spent here too much time, they would meet their team on the road. They ran back in Konoha's direction. Until they spotted their team with their clones.
Their clones sensed them as well as the shinobi waiting for them inside the puddle on the road. It was a perfect opportunity for them switch as well as see their team reactions. Soon two ninjas came out of the puddle and killed the clones who popped.
Ino has changed from her academy time, she thought they used Kawarimi to evade the chains. She took out threw kunais at them, but they evaded them. She took one another taking a proper stance to defend herself and the client. Sasuke was trying to show off by running straight at them but before he could the ninja were already dead.
Naruto and Kakashi jumped from the tree catching the weapons Ino has thrown. Naruto planted his in one in one of their spines and turned it killing him in an instant. Kakashi kicked the other one and put him on the ground. Next, he took the kunai and pinned his hands to the ground with it.
"Good job Ino, you realized we used Kawarimi and didn't hesitate to attack while still defending the client. You Sasuke should've done the same, you didn't know what they could do. Remember the patient ninja is the living ninja." Kakashi lied to which Ino smiled and Sasuke replied with a huff. How was he supposed to prove himself to be an elite?
"Now let's ask our prisoner a few questions. Why are you targeting our group? You know fully well that we can do it the hard or the soft way. Your choice." Meizu looked at his dead brother and gulped. The kid killed him without a moment of thinking, he would probably share the same fate. At least he could do it without any pain.
"We were hired by Gato to kill the bridge builder. He's a thorn in his side and wants to eliminate him. Please grant me a swift death." Meizu said. Kakashi already knew that from before but he needed a way to expose Tazuna before it could kill his team. He complied with the request shoving a Chidori in his chest.
Ino was shocked seeing that but steeled her nerves. Naruto told her many times how the outside world worked.
"Now Tazuna care to tell us why you only asked for a C-rank?" Kakashi asked with Tazuna presenting him the situation of the country and how poor they were. Kakashi was sure they could follow the mission at worst Naruto would have to show his real powers.
"You know you could have talked with the Hokage about the situation. It's on the back of the form you were supposed to deliver that in this type of circumstances you can ask for delayed or some other form of payment?" said Naruto
"Naruto who would you take as a back up in this case if you could take anyone in the village?" Naruto thought for a second and replied.
"Seeing that they were the Demon Brothers working with Zabuza our safest bet would be Yugao-nee but she's on a mission. From the genin teams I would say Asuma-sensei and team ten. They offer a good fire power with Choji and tactic mind with Shikamaru and of course a close quarters fighter in Asuma-sensei." He said forgetting completely about Sakura. Well she could be a meat shield.
"Team ten it is then; Naruto make a clone to inform the Hokage. Let's continue for now." Naruto made a clone that sprinted. When it was far enough it coated itself in Yang making it sprint at astounding speeds.
Later that same day the team crossed the Land of Waves border with someone on a boat with the engine turned off. The navigator told them to hurry with the bridge or else they would all die of hunger making Naruto have a flashback to his youth.
Around 3km off the cost Naruto felt the next opponents watching them, it had to be Zabuza. Soon a massive blade flew through the air almost decapitating everyone if they haven't hit the ground with Kakashi taking Tazuna.
"My, my the bridge builder hired some brats to escort him. Not a smart choice old man. Those snoot nosed kids won't save you." He looked at the team seeing Kakashi and then Naruto "The copycat is here, though I sense that the blonde kid is different, he reeks of death. How may have you killed? A hundred? A thousand? More?" Zabuza asked making the team widen their eyes. Naruto was supposed to be a genin for only a bit more than them. How could he have killed so many already?
"Team Manji formation around Tazuna I will fight Zabuza. Naruto if something bad happens you are in command." Seeing his true genins get pale he told them "Don't worry I will protect you" and lifted his headband showing a Sharingan.
"I get to see it from the start, I'm honored. But how are you going to protect them if you can't see? Kirigakure no Jutsu!" Naruto, seeing the mist getting denser, concentrated on his Negative Emotion Sensing.
"So many places to strike and kill, liver, lungs, spine, subclavian vein, neck vein, brain, kidneys and heart. What will it be?" said a voice appearing to be everywhere.
"Kakashi-sensei at nine, high!" Screamed Naruto using his sensing ability to guide Kakashi, truthfully, he would be much better opponent for Zabuza.
Kakashi blocked the strike and answered with his own proving that he just hit a water clone. This game continued for a few minutes until Zabuza gave up on this plan. He needed to eliminate Naruto if he wanted to have a chance to kill Kakashi.
Zabuza used his superior speed to kick Sasuke out of the way preparing to strike Naruto. The only thing that saved him were his sensory abilities. He let Sasuke get kicked out of the way to block Zabuza's sword with his own. That shit was heavy especially since he couldn't use Yang.
Kakashi wanted to help Naruto before his hand was forced. Because of that he ran straight to him until he knew he fucked up entering a body of water. The real Zabuza was waiting for this moment of hesitation and closed Kakashi in Suiro no Jutsu.
Naruto killed the offending clone and used Futon: Daitoppa to disperse the mist. Seeing Kakashi closed in the ball of water he thought it was too late. He would have to show off his true skills if a miracle didn't happen in the next few seconds. It happened when two kunais flew through the air in the direction of Zabuza.
The back up was here, Asuma, Choji and Shikamaru were here. Sakura came in ten seconds later completely winded "Guys wait for me!" she screamed. Naruto managed to make a plan on his feet considering the new arrivals.
"Asuma-sensei I will need your help. I have a plan to liberate Kakashi-sensei, but I need your team to help me." Asuma nodded believing in Naruto's quick thinking
"Shikamaru, Choji, Ino eliminate the clones blocking the path. Asuma-sensei assist me." They all nodded and did their part. Shikamaru bound them with Kagemane no Jutsu, then Choji charged in with his Nikudan Sensha, at last Ino threw kunais at the clones at the perfect moment to force them to block them not giving them time to block Choji. Naruto was really happy about the progress of his fellow blonde.
They cleared the path and Naruto and Asuma ran behind Choji with their weapons drawn. Every step Naruto used a small amount of Yang to make explosions under his feet gaining more and more speed at last he used a bigger amount to jump over Choji straight at Zabuza. He used an overhead slash that Zabuza blocked. This gave an opening for Asuma to slash Zabuza's side who had to cancel the jutsu in pain.
Naruto landed on the water sprinting even faster showing some of his skills. He wanted to finish Zabuza, but he was downed by senbons just before his slash.
The hunter-nin from before came next to Zabuza "Thank you for helping me catch him Konoha's ninja. I will take the body to dispose of it." He said and Shunshinned.
Naruto took Kakashi on his back who had a chakra exhaustion from his overuse of Sharingan and went back to the group. "Thanks guys without you we would've been dead" he said. Asuma knew it wasn't true, but he couldn't say it. He has seen that Sasuke was just getting up from the kick Zabuza gave him before.
Sakura sprinted to him "Wow Sasuke you were so cool freeing your sensei from that ninja!" she screamed. He didn't understand but it didn't stop him from accepting the praise. Everyone else was looking at her with strange looks.
"Is she hallucinating from exhaustion? Did you make her run too fast? He didn't do anything in the fight." asked Ino. A few seconds later Sakura collapsed on the ground.
"Yes, she was probably hallucinating" answered everyone else.
"Tazuna how far away to your house, we have one downed sensei and a ballast to put in bed." Asked Asuma making everyone snicker knowing who the dead weight was.
"It's about 20km we should be there in a few hours."
"We don't have enough time. Naruto make a clone to carry Tazuna. Sasuke you take Sakura. We are going to run." Sasuke wanted to protest but remembered what happened the last time he spoke down to his superior in rank.
20 minutes later they were at a small house. Tazuna got off Naruto still shaking from the rollercoaster of his life and knocked on the door. A woman around 30 years old opened the door holding a knife in case.
"Tou-san you are back safe, are those the ninjas who protected you?"
"Yes, you should have seen it how the blonde and his sensei worked together. After that he took control of the situation. Most of these kids are hella strong." He said looking at everybody without Sasuke and Sakura. Next, he did some swooshing blade sounds reminiscing the battle making everybody sweat drop at the childishness of the old man. "Now, we need a bed, the grey haired one needs some rest as well as the other one."
"Thank you everyone, now please come in, come in!" she rushed them inside.
End chapter 3
AN: I tried to put in some Sasuke and Sakura "bashing", not as a "Sasuke bad, Naruto good" but more as a comedic relief. I hope it went that way. Thanks for reading and see you next time.