AN: Naruto isn't hiding his abilities from his teammates, because he doesn't have any. He merely doesn't want them to find out about his weight training. What use it going to be for him if Sasuke goes and does the same. Naruto is trying to bridge the gap between them. Also, glitner: This is one massive, screw up ninja, who spent the four years in the academy sleeping and lazing about. He has not yet had the mental development to understand more complicated stuff.

Just because the boy can make copies of himself doesn't mean that he will automatically understand, be able to put into use and form strategies around everything he reads from the library. Yes, he has a cheat but his mind needs improving first. And that isn't just done in a couple of weeks. Remember, it has only been three weeks since he came back from Wave. Just because he has Shadow Clones doesn't mean much if he remains just as stupid. So I'm trying to improve him realistically. It would be highly unrealistic if he suddenly started beating Shikamaru at shogi by making his clones read about it.

'What a fucking moron', grumbled Naruto, as he continued hitting the log with supine punches, alternating them with neutral punches. Every so often, the blonde ninja-to-be increased the force he hit with, keeping the speed the same.

It was one of the things he had learnt from watching Guy train Lee. It wasn't that the older genin didn't have quick punches, but unlike what Naruto had thought before, power meant nothing if he didn't have the right technique.

It wasn't anything fancy – like the teme's style – but it was at least the basics. Slowing down gave him the time to focus on his form as he executed his hits.

However, the random and sporadic increased power strikes coupled with angry grunts didn't have anything to do with technique.

No. It was because he was pissed. And unlike the day before, he wasn't all pissed at his sensei. Oh no. Neither was he pissed at his so-called teammate who had all too cheerfully rubbed it in Naruto's face that the dobe wasn't even worth considering him a rival.

No. Who he was pissed at, was himself. No that wasn't right, technically. To be specific, he was pissed at the boy he used to be. What in the world has possessed him to waste four fucking years at the academy, sleeping and lazing about, truanting with dog-breath and Shikamaru?

In truth, what Sasuke had said, while it was harsh, was the undiluted truth. And it was a truth he needed to hear. Not from himself, but from someone who saw his strengths and his flaws on a daily basis.

Kakashi-sensei hadn't bothered obviously. And two months of suffering his negligence, he didn't come to expect anymore. Honestly, he was actually thankful to the teme for his harsh truths.

It was true that Naruto, as he was now, couldn't even be considered a possible rival for the teme. During their impromptu fight, Naruto had for a brief moment, even entertained the notion that he might have improved.

But Sasuke had proven his assumption wrong fairly quickly. Even when he had stopped holding back his minimal increased speed, it did nothing to deter the Uchiha. And the teme had, just like every day, proceeded to wipe the floor with him. One can't after all, improve in leaps and bounds in a week, even with reading books and scrolls, after not having done anything for four years.

'AGHH!' Naruto had tried again more in the last week than in the four years previously, to reign in his emotions. But they were filling him like a trough filling with rainwater in a storm. They needed to be let out.

'What a moron!' Naruto saw himself in place of the log, the grinning idiot wearing his orange jumpsuit, yelling to the world about being Hokage.

With an enraged yell, he cocked back his arm and exploded it out, not paying attention to the screaming pain in his fingers as the wooden pole shattered into a hundred pieces.

'You're just jealous because you didn't think I could rival you', Naruto, in a moment of petulant anger spat at the Uchiha, from his place on the ground, his face caked with mud.

He wasn't surprised to see the bastard's smug smirk. But he was surprised to see him chuckling. Sasuke never laughed. But Naruto wasn't stupid. He could see that there was no mirth in Sasuke's chuckle.

'You loser. You really think you're my rival? You only passed because of Iruka's kindness!' Sasuke had growled at him, his sharingan eyes glaring full force. 'You, who even now, can't even do a simple bushin, let alone any of the academy three properly. You couldn't kill Zabuza properly and had to wait till he was down. You didn't even notice that we were being watched! Idiot!'

Naruto eyes widened at the stupidity of the teme. Why the fuck would he reveal the information. What a moron!

Unfortunately, Sasuke took his shock the wrong way and seemed to revel in the fact that Naruto hadn't even known the spies were present. 'Che! Dobe! I'd sooner call Inuzuka my rival than you!'

Naruto had recoiled as if struck by a snake, well aware of the wetness growing in his eyes. But refused to show weakness to this bastard and turned away angrily, yelling a 'fuck you' to the teme.

Vaguely, he recognised the spike in said Inuzuka's chakra somewhere where team eight was hiding.

'I will defeat you! And dog-breath! Mark my words teme!' Naruto had left the grounds then and had proceeded to drown himself in inordinate amounts of ramen.

It wasn't after he had isolated himself to train later that he had given any thought to Sasuke's harsh but honest words.

Naruto begrudgingly admitted that the teme was right. The only reason he had even passed the henge and substitution parts of the ninjutsu test was because he had nearly exhausted himself the night before, working all through the night. And even then, the fucking clone jutsu was beyond him.

And somewhere along the way, he had forgotten his own words, his nindo, despite his yelling to the world at the top of his lungs. He had given up. He had conceded defeat to the academy three jutsu, and just accepted that he couldn't do them without extreme effort.

'Stupid! Stupid!' he berated himself. But his mind was made up. He would not back down. No matter what happened now.

And with that, he took a deep breath and ran like the devil was on his tail towards the Hokage's office. If Jiji didn't help him, then he would bug Danzo until the one-eyed cripple agreed to. It was a desperate measure, but the times justified it, he felt. It wasn't closing time yet and the old man usually worked late hours.

But as Naruto came up to the tower, he saw the large number of stairs he usually took. 'Fuck that', he grumbled and turned his attention towards the window opening into the Hokage's office.

With a great, practised leap, Naruto grabbed onto the pole nearby swinging a few times, gathering momentum and launching himself at the wall. But he didn't stop, for he would have undoubtedly glided down it.

Instead, he grabbed onto the bricks jutting out then pushed himself up, pushing chakra in his hands and feet every time. But he did not attempt to the stick to the wall. For he had learnt his lessons from the many times he had tried to prank the old man.

Now, he knew that for some reason the he couldn't stick chakra to the wall. It was oil and water just slipped off. The phenomenon was quite interesting but it was no time to dwell on it. As Naruto made the final leap the ledge outside the old man's office, he knew he was being watched by at least two hidden ANBU.

'Yo Jiji!' Naruto grinned, glad that he had taken the time to wipe his tear streaks from his face. He had even bandaged his bruised and bleeding right hand.

'Naruto-kun', the old man and turned smiled, looking from him to the window he was sitting.

Naruto saw something like recognition pass through the Hokage's eyes before it was wiped away much too quickly for him to study it.

What he didn't see however, was a much too subtle hidden gesture the Hokage made to his ANBU, who consequently relaxed the taut, ninja string hidden by genjutsu over the window, ready to take an assassin's head off.

It didn't strike them as anything extraordinary though. Even though many of the shinobi and the civilians in the village didn't like the boy's close relationship with the Hokage, they had come to accept it, in time.

Though, there were very few who knew why that was. After all, the Hokage doesn't make it a point to befriend every orphan in the village. But that information was highly classified and was known by only those with the highest clearance.

'You could have used the door if you wanted to visit', the Hokage motioned to the normal route of entry.

'Naah', Naruto waved it off, 'It takes too long. Besides, this is much better.'

The Hokage chuckled, looking at the boy who so often claimed that he was only waiting to take his job. And his hat. And to be honest, he couldn't wait for the day. 'Well now that you're here, it gives me a good excuse to take a break.'

Naruto eyes widened momentarily before he gave him an honest, cheeky smile. It had been months since he had had eaten with the old man.

'How about some sushi?' the Hokage asked, already having gotten out from behind the desk.

'You bet, old man', Naruto replied. But uncertainty coloured his response. One that wasn't missed by the veteran of two Shinobi wars, 'If you're sure.'

'Of course, I am', Hiruzen answered the boy, hoping to put the boy at ease. This was new however. Naruto had never been uncertain when Hiruzen had invited the boy to eat with him.

Half an hour later, they were settled into a nice cosy, sushi restaurant, the Golden Leaf. Although not terribly fancy, Naruto was still very highly underdressed for it, not that he cared. But since he was with the Hokage, nobody even made a face.

Some small talk later, the Hokage finally decided to get to the bottom of the young genin's uncharacteristically dour mood. Of course, the boy had tried to hide it from him, admirably even. But he wasn't taught by the Nidaime for nothing.

He briefly wondered what had prompted this more subdued Naruto to try to hide his emotions. That was not at all the boy he knew. Was he perhaps becoming serious about being a ninja?

And a more traitorous part of his mind supplied an alternate. Or was the reason for this change more sinister in nature. No! He refused to think such troubling thoughts. For all he knew, the issue could be as simple as that young Haruno girl not accepting his invitation for a date.

'I sense something is troubling you, Naruto-kun', the Hokage said, sipping his sake, and keeping it a decent length away from the young genin.

Naruto smiled as the Hokage took the sake cup further away, remembering the last time he had drank it, thinking it was water. Truthfully, he didn't remember much but according to the old man, it had been a mistake.

'Kakashi', he started but was instantly interrupted by the Hokage.

'Kakashi-sensei, Naruto-kun.'

Naruto pursed his lips, but conceded, 'Kakashi-sensei isn't training me at all.'

The Hokage's eyes widened for a fraction of a second. That was not true. He had seen Naruto practising his throwing whilst using Kage bunshin, in his crystal ball. 'What do you mean, Naruto?'

If the boy realised the more serious turn in the lack of honorific, he didn't say it. Accusing one's sensei of a lack of training was serious business.

With that Naruto launched into a rant about how Kakashi favoured the teme, who he quickly realised was Sasuke, and even worked on Sakura's stamina with her somewhat. But all he kept saying to Naruto was practice his basics, and only sparred with him two or three times a week.

'How the hell am I supposed to practice when he wouldn't tell me how!' Naruto exclaimed hotly, momentarily waving his hands around like the twelve-year-old he was.

Hiruzen chuckled, having expected something much worse.

'It's not funny old man', Naruto narrowed his eyes, ignoring the whispering of some people who thought it was too rude of him to address the Hokage as such.

'I am not saying it is', Hiruzen answered. He would have to talk to Kakashi about his attitude towards his team, it seems. 'From what I have seen of your academy graduation test, you do need to work on the basics. In that, your sensei isn't wrong.'

Seeing a barrage of emotion colour the boy's face, he raised his hand to stop him. 'But you are also right. He cannot expect you to figure it out without giving you some pointers at least. I assume you have done the tree walking exercise?'

Naruto eyes gleamed as he saw the sliver of opportunity this was, 'Yes!' he nodded. 'I have even mastered sticking multiple leaves to me and my shadow clones whilst tree climbing.'

Hiruzen almost laughed at that response, reminding him of his student many years ago. He too had come up with a similarly ingenious way of trying to control his large reserves.

'Very clever, Naruto-kun. Now, tell me. What would be more beneficial for you in the long run? For me or your sensei to tell you everything you need to do? Or that you figure it out on your own?'

Naruto knew the answer to that in an instant. He had realised it just after he had finished Tobirama's book. 'Me figuring it out obviously. But that doesn't mean I can't get any pointers, Jiji!'

'True', the Hokage conceded his point. 'So, what do you want from me?'

Naruto opened his mouth, immediately intent on asking for help on taijutsu or even shurikenjutsu or maybe even give him another sensei, since this one was obviously useless. One who would at least teach him something.

But then he saw the almost expectant look in his eyes and realised the old man was testing him. And he had very nearly failed it.

Hiruzen waited for the answer he knew was coming and he had already prepared his response to it. However, he was left entirely baffled when the boy responded with, 'You can tell the Chunins in the library not to kick me out.'

'The library, Naruto-kun? I wasn't aware you went there', the old man said, not feeling slightly guilty about the lie. Of course, he knew that the boy snuck in at night, and was mildly impressed that he hadn't set off any of the traps yet.

'Yes, well….' Naruto scratched the back of his head, 'I have to learn from somewhere don't I? Even if scrolls can only get me so far.'

Between that, and his extra training with Guy, Hiruzen had already been suitably impressed by the boy's drive to succeed to not deny him such a trivial thing, which was his right anyway. But he needed to make something clear to the young genin.

'Okay, Naruto-kun. But you have to promise me you will not attempt any of the advanced jutsu in the library. It can be very, very dangerous for you.'

Naruto nodded eagerly. He had already expected it, and truly had no intention of even going for the more complicated jutsu until he could master his already flawed ones.

Then a golden opportunity showed itself by way of Hokage's incentive. 'What are you working on, if I may ask?'

Naruto knew it wasn't a request in the slightest. His brief one-hour conversations with Danzo had showed him as much.

Expecting an answer akin to a fancy taijutsu style or shurikenjutsu technique, yet again, he was left surprised when boy replied, in a rather subdued voice, 'The Academy Three jutsu. I just can't get them down'. Leave it to the most unpredictable ninja of Konoha to surprise even him.

However, his inability to do the academy three had basis in a much more serious matter. One that needed very careful monitoring. But the Hokage knew that if the boy managed it, with his large reserves, he would come out of the experience much stronger than if he simply went on to more advanced techniques.

Or even if, as he suspected Naruto wanted, he gave the boy another sensei. That simply wasn't possible. Not only because it will be very hard to find someone to train him seriously, but he couldn't trust them not to be coloured by their bigotness.

Even if they agreed, including him in their team would not only disrupt Team 7 but also the team he put Naruto in. Other than that, there was a certain war-hawk who would pounce at the opportunity and that was something that Hiruzen wanted to prevent at all costs.

No, giving him another sensei just wasn't practical…. yet. The opportunity may present itself later. Or he could call his student back earlier than planned. First, he would give the boy a test.

'Good. Good', he replied, surprising Naruto who turned his downcast eyes to him. 'That's very wise of you, Naruto-kun. And, if you manage to do it, within three weeks, I shall teach you a jutsu myself.'

For the first time during their meeting, Naruto's eye lit up, like the stars shone out of the blue irises.

It wasn't every day that the Hokage offered to teach anyone anything. 'Really? That's great, old man! I'll get them down, you'll see!'

The Hokage chuckled, glad to see at least some of the old Naruto in this new, evolving genin, 'I have no doubt. I shall take care of your entry into the library and from tomorrow, you shall have no problems, in that at least.'

It was genuine smiles like this one that made his dreary job more bearable for the war-weary veteran.

'Kiba-kun's preening like a peacock', Hinata mused internally as they had rushed from their hiding place back to their own training ground and even further away, heading quickly towards the Hokage Tower.

The image of a peacock puffing out its chest with Kiba's head made her giggle and pulled her out of her dark thoughts, distracting her from the thundering heart.

What if Sasuke had realised who was spying on them? What if he told Naruto-kun? How was she going to fix it? How was she going to convince the boy who was more than just an inspiration to her, that she wasn't spying on him because of malice.

Would he understand? Or would he dismiss her without even listening to her, much like clan members did? Surely, Naruto-kun wouldn't do that. No. He was too kind for that.

Suddenly, she felt ashamed of her previous thoughts. Thinking that Naruto-kun had known they were there and was acting just to deceive them. She should have known that he couldn't do something like that. He was above such deception.

Kiba puffed out his chest, seeing Hinata giggle when he reported the dobe's pathetic skills to their sensei. If they can be called skills. Surely, now that Hinata had seen Naruto getting beat up in such a disgraceful way, she would get over her silly crush on the loser. She would see he wasn't good enough for.

Kurenai raised an eyebrow at her young genin team, listening to Kiba's rather biased report. She nodded, as the Inuzuka finished and motioned for Shino to add anything else.

'As expected, they lack any sensory ability whatsoever', the bug-user said. 'Team Ten might prove a better challenge if Ino-san has inherited Inoichi-sama's sensory ability.'

'Hinata', she prompted the girl who was now confusing her more than Kakashi. Didn't she have feelings for the Uzumaki? Why then was she glad about his weaknesses? She wasn't cruel like others, so what amused her so?

'Do you have anything to add?' But she already knew the girl wouldn't say anything.

However, not only her but Shino and Kiba were visibly surprised when the girl replied, 'Hai, sensei.'

Hinata never volunteered for anything. What had changed in the two hours she had sent her team on the mission?

At Kurenai's encouraging nod, Hinata took a breath, 'I agree with Shino-kun that Team 7 doesn't have a sensory ninja. B…but, their team in also imbalanced.'

Kurenai raised an eyebrow at that statement. She hadn't expected for any genin to notice it. Surprising and interesting. 'Explain.'

'From the abilities we saw, I assume team 7 was supposed to a be heavy assault team', Hinata replied, wondering if she should say everything she had noticed.

But if she didn't, then it might not help Naruto-kun at all. Perhaps…. Perhaps if she brought it to sensei's attention, she might be able to do something about it.

'Sasuke-san is very talented at taijutsu and ninjutsu. Sakura-san has very good chakra control, hinting at a practice in genjutsu. But their sensei deliberately favours Sasuke-san over Naruto-kun, which also explains why Naruto-kun is still practising tree climbing and shuriken throwing. Other than Naruto-kun's ability to create tangible clones, which we had already seen in Wave Country, he doesn't offer much to the team.'

'Much like myself', she added mentally.

Kurenai could see that the speech had taken a lot of effort for her to say. Hinata tried, whenever possible not to say anything negative about anyone. So, it was surprising, to say the least, to see her point out Uzumaki's flaws. She wondered if she should tell her three genin that the intel they had brought back was most probably false, other than perhaps, Uzumaki's skills. She had seen his taijutsu in the academy and it seems that he was just as bad now as he was two months ago.

Although why Kakashi wasn't working with him on improving it, she wasn't sure. It certainly wasn't allowed nor was it ethical to spend more time training one genin than the other two. Even if said genin has the Sharingan. She would have thought that Kakashi would have known this. Just like she couldn't spend more time with Hinata than Shino and Kiba, no matter how much she felt the girl needed individual attention. Should she talk to the Sandaime about this? Was it any of her business? She would give it some more thought, first.

It was obvious to her that Sasuke had somehow found out about her team's spying much earlier and acted to counter it. He had to get credit for that. Though, his response wasn't perfect either. He should not have blurted it out so openly. She took comfort in the fact that her team wasn't very far behind than Team 7. In fact, they might even be a little ahead.

Kurenai wasn't by nature a competitive person but more than one person had objected to her being promoted to a jounin and so quickly given a genin team to lead. But was it because she was a woman, or because she focused on genjutsu which the male dominated ninja ranks see as weak, she did not know. Either way, she would prove them wrong.

'It could also be that Uzumaki-san doesn't have the drive to improve', she replied, wanting to see how Hinata responded.

Kiba instantly agreed with her, 'The baka only knows how to scream about becoming Hokage!'

However, the girl's head whipped up so fast she thought Hinata might hurt herself.

The young girl vigorously shook her head, 'N…No. Naruto-kun tries very hard. He did not back down even when he knew that Sasuke-san was stronger than him. He keeps pushing himself forward even when he fails', Hinata replied, with a sudden and certain fire in her eyes.

It had taken all her power and self-control to stay in her hiding spot and not go to the poor, strong Naruto-kun after seeing him being beaten into the muddy ground. Not that she was under any delusion that she could do anything against Sasuke-san.

But she had seen the tears in Naruto-kuns eyes. And that sight broke her heart more than she could imagine. Or explain.

It was very rude and unwarranted of Sasuke-san to say such hurtful things to Naruto-kun. Couldn't he see that his teammate was hurting. Couldn't he see that Naruto-kun was trying so hard.

It painfully reminded her of her similar situation. Just when she was feeling down, and feeling pity for him, Naruto-kun, very much like himself, had stood up yet again and proclaimed he would defeat Sasuke-san and Kiba-kun.

She hadn't needed the Byakugan to see the absolute conviction on his face, or hear the confidence in his voice, the certainty that he will make his ambition come true.

Yes, Sasuke-san had said harsh words, but she had also seen the acceptance in Naruto-kun's face. Acceptance of his weakness. But unlike her, he didn't allow it to get him down. Instead, he used it to motivate him.

It spurred her on even more. No longer will she allow her own weakness to stand in her way. If Naruto-kun could keep fighting on, even with his weaknesses, then so could she.

Hinata raised her head, conviction eminent in her voice, 'Naruto-kun is the most driven person I know', missing Kiba's hardening eyes and his dour look.

Kurenai inwardly smiled at the girl. Her unfounded suspicions were proving wrong. This wasn't just any silly crush that her student harboured.

'Well, well Hinata. Who would have expected that?', Kurenai thought, amused. But apart from her amusement, there was also relief.

Her fear that Hinata's feelings for Uzumaki would hinder her ninja development were unfounded. She wasn't being held down by them, she was being motivated.

Half an hour later, Hinata walked to her father's office, stamping down on her furiously beating heart. Why did he want to see her? Dare she hope he would resume her training?

Tentatively, she knocked on the door. 'Enter', came her father's stern voice from the inside.

However, he wasn't alone, as she had expected. In the office, there sat several of Hyuga Council members, most of them from the main branch. And most of them watched with disapproval at her muddy state, for she had come straight from training and not had time enough to change.

'You come to us dressed like that! What a shame you are on the clan!' said the shrill voice of Akani Hyuga, an ancient female Hyuga from her father's side.

'Peace woman', said a great-uncle, 'I already have a headache. No need to worsen it. Sit, girl.'

'H…Hai', Hinata replied, and sat in front of them on tatami mat, trying her best not to fidget under their stern gazes. She wasn't able to, however, stop herself from clenching her jacket in her fists.

After a long silence, that seemed to span an eternity, her father spoke. 'Do you know why you have been summoned?'

Still looking at the floor, Hinata shook her head, 'No, otou-sama.'

As expected, his gaze hardened even more. 'Ever since you were five, we had hoped you would become a strong heiress in order to protect the clan. But your tutors consistently reported you being average. You proved that in the academy tests and results for four years!'

'No! This wasn't happening!'

Hinata's fists tightened around her clutched jacket. Her already bruised hands were whitening. Her fingers were losing feeling.

'You lost the match with Hanabi and even then, we took no action. We handed you over to a genin team, hoping that you would be of some use to the Hokage and the village, if you can't serve the Hyuga. Even there you have proven yourself weak, contributing consistently less than your teammates.'

Hinata shook her head, 'N…no, tou-san. I…' cursing herself for her stuttering at a time like this. Could she get any weaker?

'Your recent failure in the C-rank to Wave just justified our decision.'

Decision?! Hinata trembled, shaking her head even more in denial. This couldn't be happening. She wasn't of age yet. Her father had agreed to wait on a decision until she was. This wasn't fair! He was going back on his word!

'We simply cannot allow a failure to succeed me as Head of the Hyuga Clan', Hiashi continued, paying no need to the silent protestations of his weak daughter. She was simply too kind.

'No! Tou-san. Please', Hinata protested, trying to make him see reason. She had made a promise to her mother. To be brave. To be strong! She had to uphold it.

'As such, we have decided that you will forego your place as heiress for Hanabi, who even now shows incredible talent', Hiashi informed his daughter, seeing the last vestiges of her protestations weaken, the shaking stop.

Disappointing! He had been hoping she would put up a fight, to prove to them that she deserved to fight for her place. Hanabi would never have given in so meekly.

Hinata had already been readying herself for such a decision since she had lost the match to Hanabi a couple of years ago.

'When you inevitably fail the chunin exam, you will be removed from the active roster. For we have already accepted a betrothal contract for you.'

Where was the conviction that had filled her seeing Naruto-kun respond to a superior foe? Was she only talk and no action? No! She was not! She still needed to find the person who had committed the crime against her mother and make him pay. Her mother's eyeless face and her pain; Naruto-kun's conviction and his confidence in the face of adversity, swarmed in front of her eyes.

Chakra surged, her Byakugan activated without hand signs; her head shot up to glare at her father and she opened her mouth, silencing Hiashi momentarily, intent on making herself heard.

And for the first time, the timid, shy, girl spoke out against father and clan.

'I will not! Believe it!'