Underneath the Underneath

By: FlameXFullmetal

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I really wish I did but I don't. I make no money from the writing of this work of pure fanfiction and I do this solely for enjoyment. Thank you for not suing me.

A/N: If you intend to leave a review please keep the language appropriate and do not tell me to go kill myself. Thanks!

"hello" people (bijuu in human form) speaking

'hello' people (bijuu in human form) thinking/coded hand signals

"HELLO" bijuu (full demon form)/summoning/deity yelling

"hello" bijuu (full demon form)/summoning/deity talking

'hello' bijuu (full demon form)/summoning/deity thinking

hello jutsu

**************Crack in the Mask*********************

He wasn't stupid. He knew that the nine-tailed fox was sealed inside of him. He had even met the fox. Hell, he had even met his parents too. Despite popular belief, he was aware of most everything that went on in his life. He knew that the shy Hyuga girl liked him but he never acknowledged her in order to protect her from her own clan. The Hyuga were some of his more annoying 'enemies'. He knew that Sakura would never like him, hell that was the point of trying to get her to like him. He had been keeping his skills hidden in order to better fight potential enemies. He had been taught that the shinobi who was underestimated was usually the one that survived ambushes. Besides, why let the village know what he was truly capable of when they didn't trust or acknowledge his existence? Despite the adversity and the animosity towards him, he loved Konoha, the village his father died to protect, the very same village that his mother had protected with her mere existence.

No one in Konoha minus a few select people ever knew that the red death of Konoha had also been the vessel to the nine-tailed fox. Turning his attention back to the lecture that Iruka was giving he sighed and wished that the day would end already. Contrary to popular belief he never tried to make friends because he never knew if they would still be his friends when they found out about Kyuubi. Plus he couldn't tell if there was anyone besides Hinata that was trustworthy.

Sighing he couldn't help but think back to the fox that had been his sensei for years. Kyuubi had many names and many forms to choose from. The nine tailed fox had been known as Kurama years ago at the time of the Rikudo Sennin. However, Kyuubi liked change and had never had the same name twice nor used the same perceived form twice. Strangely enough, Kyuubi had decided that her/his newest name would become a contest between the two of them and whoever came up with a name that she/he liked would win. Win what had yet to be established.

"to….ruto….NARUTO!" Iruka finally yelled to try and capture the distracted shinobi hopeful's attention. Jerking his head up to look at his irate teacher Naruto blushed sheepishly.

"Sorry, Iruka-sensei. I wasn't paying attention." Naruto admitted honestly. That had been a first even for him. He could hear the laughter of the class around him and he paid no mind to it.

"I was saying that tomorrow we are going to have a taijutsu test and that you will be required to take it. Call it a warm-up for the final exam in three days Naruto. Try to pay attention I'm concerned that you won't pass this time." Iruka had a frown on his face and Naruto felt somewhat bad at making the older nin upset.

"Of course Iruka sensei. There is no need to worry though I can totally pass this exam, believe it!" he added for emphasis.

"I don't believe it and that is what has me worried. You still have not produced a passable bunshin and that is a requirement for the exam. You know that. In addition, according to academy rules if you fail this time then you will not have another chance at becoming a shinobi. You have already failed the exam twice and you only get three chances." Iruka lectured. This was the part of the man that he hated. Iruka always forgot not to lecture him about his past failures in class. So naturally, the class would take everything that Iruka would say and use it to taunt him. Naturally, there were a few things that he failed naturally at but the one thing that he had yet to get down even with Kyuubi's training was his bunshin jutsu. All of a sudden an idea struck him and he grinned like a lunatic.

"Iruka-sensei I have a question."

"Go ahead Naruto."

"Bunshin jutsu is the weakest cloning technique with the lowest chakra requirement right?" The intelligence behind the question surprised everyone.

"That is correct. This is because the bunshin no jutsu is a genjutsu class technique that doesn't make a solid clone of the real thing like the higher level jutsu. Why?" Iruka questioned.

"Well we already established that with my chakra reserves I will never pull off a genjutsu and because of my reserves it will be near impossible for me to learn any technique that is below a C-rank without difficulty, so what if the problem isn't that I am not trying or practicing enough to do the jutsu? What if it is because my chakra reserves won't let me do the jutsu?" Everyone in the room was stunned at how Naruto, the class dobe, had just described his problem. It actually made a lot of sense to all of them and that was an accomplishment. Naruto, however, wasn't done.

"Also, we had already deduced that I was using a new form of henge as my henges are real and can be touched. Therefore, wouldn't it make sense to petition the Hokage under academy guidelines to allow me to learn a more advanced form of bunshin no jutsu that takes more chakra and produces a real body?" there he had done it. Naruto had just made everyone including Mizuki look like a fool for not noticing his problem sooner. Iruka's face was a mix of pride, disappointment, and happiness.

"I don't believe that I never saw that! Of course, that would be the problem. Why didn't I think of that before?!" Iruka suddenly cried out triumphantly. Almost immediately everyone in the class's hand was in the air. Iruka couldn't help but groan at a headache that he knew was coming.

"Iruka-sensei, what the hell does the dobe mean?" Sasuke demanded. There was no way that someone should have a higher reserve than he did. He trained harder and longer than the whole class and he was from the Uchiha clan. The strongest clan.

"Naruto, due to complex circumstances has a chakra reserve larger than anyone in this building. In fact, I would put his reserves at about ANBU or kage level. The problem is that a reserve of that level is nearly impossible to control and learning beginner techniques and genjutsu is near impossible. Actually, no one with those kinds of beginning reserves was good at genjutsu." Iruka explained making everyone gape at the grinning blond.

"What kind of complex circumstances?" Sasuke pressed. Iruka frowned knowing that nothing the boy was told would placate him unless it was the truth.

"Circumstances that are both complex and considered an SS-Rank village secret concerning safety and security. Any further questions would warrant the asker to be arrested and I will not elaborate on this further. Only the Hokage has the authority to tell and he will not tell you as the only ones that get to know are jonin and higher." Iruka said with finality in his voice. Sasuke was hardly appeased with the answer and vowed to find out how the blonde failure had somehow surpassed him and had such a high level of classification when he was nobody of worth. If he had been a clan shinobi perhaps there would be something to hide but he wasn't.

"Iruka-sensei, if only jonin and higher get to know then why do you know?" Sakura innocently asked. Iruka's eye began to twitch.

"I was given a special exception when I became Naruto's homeroom teacher. In addition, I was there in the Hokage's office years ago when the law was put into place. Now I want everyone to know this. Even if your parents tell you the reason why it is still considered high treason and they will be arrested and executed accordingly as they are also forbidden. If they tell you and you tell someone else both of you will be executed no exceptions. Now the rest of the class will be free study until I get back from talking with the Hokage. I expect it to be done silently and in your own seats." Iruka commanded before taking off. Running quickly to the Hokage's tower he could only hope that he would get permission before something happened in the classroom.

"Hey, dobe, where did you get your reserves from? Special training from the Hokage?" Sasuke demanded hell-bent on finding out.

"Nope. As far as I know, I was born with them. Maybe I had some awesome parents that had super cool reserves. I bet that it is my genetics. Or perhaps a new kekkai genkai." Naruto finished his half bragging by sticking out his tongue. He knew where he had gotten them. Kyuubi had added a lot to his reserves and both of his parents had higher than average reserves their whole life. He also knew of the Uzumaki clan and knew of their bloodline(s).

"Naruto-baka don't talk to Sasuke-Kun like that! Everyone knows that your parents were worthless and that they abandoned you when the Kyuubi attacked." Sakura shrieked in her nails-on-chalkboard pitch. The other students laughed/cringed at the insult sent to Naruto. Sakura kept going on multiple theories and never noticed Naruto rising from his chair. Clenching his fists in anger, his head dropped so that his hair covered his eyes.

"Sakura take that back." The growl had shut everyone up and had them looking at the young jinchuriki in shock. That had been the first time that Naruto had 1) not added –chan to the end of Sakura's name 2) retaliated against the teasing and name calling 3) had growled and finally gave off a killing intent. Let's not forget that the KI was strong enough to make Mizuki-sensei pale and back away from the demon host. Staring in shock for a second Sakura gathered her wits and seemingly oblivious to the KI coming off of him stood and looked him right in the face.

"Or you'll what? Make a half-dead clone and scare me to death with faces? Face it loser everyone knows that you are the worst student in this class and that you couldn't hold your own for a minute in a real fight." She said smugly.

"Actually, if you bothered to pay attention to the rankings in class then you would know that technically I am above both Shikamaru and Kiba and Kiba has the worst scores thus making him the dobe." Naruto seethed. Shikamaru could easily tell that things were getting out of hand.

"Hey, could you two keep it down I can't sleep with this entire racket. Besides Iruka-sensei said quiet study." He mused out loud.

"Heh, hear that Naruto you are breaking the rules." Sakura looked smugly at him only to gape when Hinata spoke up.

"Actually, S-S-S-S-Shikamaru-Kun was referring to you, N-N-N-Naruto-Kun and Sasuke-san as you were all the ones that started the noise. In reality, it was S-S-S-Sasuke-san that broke the rules first and out of all three of you, you are being the loudest Sakura." She managed to get out. Everyone in the class had turned to look at the shy heiress in amazement. Shaking her head Sakura's sneer returned tenfold and this time she directed it at the Hyuuga heiress.

"Why do you stand up for him, huh Hinata? He is nothing like my Sasuke-Kun and he is worthless just like his parents." She mocked.

"A-A-A-Actually, I fail to see the greatness of the last Uchiha as he strikes me as nothing more than a spoiled brat who wants everything but doesn't want to work for it. If one were to think of him as husband material then I would have to put him at the bottom of the list because of his attitude and overall smugness. I would never want an overconfident, conceited, selfish, spoiled, egocentric lunatic as a husband!" Hinata's voice had risen greatly and no one missed that she had lost her stutter. As Sakura went to retort Hinata cut her off.

"On the other hand, ALMOST any other boy in this room would be better husband material. Take Shikamaru-Kun. He is intelligent but modest enough not to flaunt it. He is strong but doesn't like to put too much effort into his tests because he doesn't see a need to and when he puts his mind into something he doesn't stop until he has completed his task. Choji, despite being big-boned, loves food and would ensure that his family is fed before running off for power and is very strong and gentle. Shino is compassionate to all forms of life and has an honest understanding of what being different is like." Hinata took a breath before continuing.

"Naruto-Kun also knows what being different is like and is strong. He hides all of his talents so that he can try to blend in more easily and he tries to be nice to everyone he meets. He thinks only the best of other people and tries to see the good in people. He only ever thinks the worst when he is given good reason to by that person and it takes a lot to convince him. He would rather give his life than see this village or anyone in it get hurt. He would gladly run off to save a complete stranger disregarding his own safety if he could. When compared to them, Sasuke is more of a controlling self-centered, power seeking, egotistical freak who needs to be taken down a peg or two." Hinata said with finality in her voice. Naruto was openly gaping at the young heiress and didn't know what to think. He had no idea that she knew him that well or thought that highly of him. Sasuke, on the other hand, was fuming and couldn't believe what he had just heard! How dare she insult him like that! He knew that she was weird but to say that the dobe was better than him?

"You-you-you! How dare you talk about Sasuke-Kun like that!" Most of the girls in the room yelled. Hinata didn't back down though.

"Ask yourselves this: Why do you like Sasuke besides his name and status. What do you know of his personality? What are his goals? Has he ever displayed any kind of affection towards any of you? Acknowledged your existence? Shown any traits that you would want in the man that you give your life to?" Hinata retorted. She blinked in surprise as she saw many of the girls begin to think about what she had just said.

"She's right forehead, he has never done any of that. I liked him because he was 'cool' and good at everything. But now that I think about it, I would never marry him." She said with no hesitation in her voice. Sakura saw red. She was one of Sasuke's staunchest supporters and she would not allow an insult like this to stand. She lunged at the heiress with every intention of putting her in her place. Jaws widened as a loud crash echoed through the room. Not even Sasuke could make sense of what he had just seen. Naruto who had been standing on the other side of the room was now in front of the heiress with a look of murderous rage on his face. His mask was breaking and he didn't care.

Even Mizuki was stunned. He didn't think that any genin could move that fast and yet the Uzumaki had. This only confirmed his belief that Naruto was, in fact, the Kyuubi. Sitting up Sakura stared at the blonde as the pain began to register. He had never raised a hand to her! He had always followed after her like a lost little puppy and yet he had just knocked her across the room. To Sasuke, the look on Naruto's face was enough to make Itachi's look like a gentle smile. It made him think back to some of the questions that he had been asked after the massacre. 'The last time that you saw Itachi, did he look like he was going to kill your family?' naturally, his answer had been no. However, now he was looking at someone who did look like they were going to massacre a bunch of people.

"I don't know what your problem is Haruno, but attacking Hinata-chan for doing something that most of us have wanted to do for a while is probably the dumbest move that I have ever seen you make." Naruto hissed. He couldn't believe that she would actually go as far as harming the Hyuga heiress as that alone could cause so many problems especially between the Hyuga and the civilians. Had Sakura actually hurt Hinata, Hiashi would have been on the warpath. Injuries that occur during a sparring match are one thing but injuries that occur as a result of a vicious attack are another.

"Hokage-sama I have come to request permission to teach Naruto either an elemental bunshin or Kage bunshin no jutsu as his reserves will never allow him to perform the bunshin no jutsu," Iruka stated calmly as soon as the door to the Hokage's office was closed. The Sandaime nearly choked on the smoke from his pipe when he heard what it was that Iruka wanted. Sitting his pipe down he looked into Iruka's eyes and gave a small nod for Iruka to continue.

"We were discussing the chances of Naruto passing the next exam and the subject of Naruto's chakra levels and inability to do Genjutsu came up. It was Naruto who suggested that we attempt a higher level bunshin, actually. He realized the problem long before I did. Therefore, I wanted to know if I could go ahead and teach him a different bunshin no jutsu." He added quickly. Sighing the old Kage leaned back in his chair and looked out the window.

"The next exam is in three days Iruka. Do you really think that Naruto can learn a new jutsu and master it in enough time to use it for the exam?"

"Naruto is resilient, so I think that if given a chance he would master the new technique in a few hours," Iruka confirmed. Smiling slightly the old man turned once again to the teacher.

"If you think that Naruto will be able to manage then I will indeed give you permission to teach him a different bunshin no jutsu. I will leave it to you though to decide which one though." He added with finality. Iruka nodded and began to contemplate which jutsu it should be.

"Perhaps, considering the level of his reserves it should be the shadow clone." He finally said. The Sandaime nodded and quickly wrote the instructions down.

"Do make sure to stress the importance of using caution with this jutsu." He said handing them over. He had always seen Naruto as a grandson and he did want the boy to pass as he thought that he could make an excellent shinobi. Iruka smiled and headed back to class. When he got there the room was quiet and Sasuke and Naruto were glaring at each other. Sakura was sitting under the cracked chalkboard and Mizuki looked like he had seen a ghost. Holding his head he knew that the rest of the day was going to be very long.

*************************T.B.C***************************

A/N: Well what do you think? For those that will flame me for making Sasuke an ass, don't worry I will make another story where he is good eventually. Thanks for reading! Ja ne!