Chapter 3
Departure
"I understand" was the hokages response to the blondes decision. He was no fool nor was he ignorant to what has awakened in his grandson. Naruto's eyes weren't the only deciding factor in his decision of letting the blonde go out into the world but his aura. Before it was untamed, a violent typhoon of blue energy but now a mischievous purple, dark to the point where the regular eye would perceive it as black.
Iruka was shell shocked at the blondes declaration but even more so with the hokages response. "Hokage-sama, Naruto is just an academy student! He cannot be let out into the world alone! He is also irreplaceable due to his… uh." Iruka finished smartly as he remembered the law surrounding his little brother.
"I know brother" Naruto responded after hearing Iruka dance around the subject of the beast contained within him. The academy teacher looked at the blonde in shock.
"H-how do you-" Iruka began before being cut off by his student.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head while his face contorted in discomfort. "How do I put this…" he pondered aloud. Before he could answer the hokage cut in.
"Iruka-kun please go back to teaching your class. I have something to discuss with my grandson" the hokage finished with a tone that left no other option but to leave.
Iruka left the blonde orphans home but not without a heavy, concerned heart. Naruto looked at his grandfather but this time felt like the first time he could actually see the man for who he was. The aura surrounding him was terrifying. The most noticeable of all was the monkey- no, King Gorilla shape it took. The dark brown color only made it seem more oppressive and dangerous.
The aura disappeared as the older man stood up and made his way to the teapot. He began brewing tea. As he made it no words were exchanged between the two, Naruto only stared at the back of his grandfather. When the tea was done and filled in two cups he sat back down and slid a cup to the blonde.
After the both of them took a sip Hiruzen began. "I approve of your decision" he said firmly. Naruto looked at him unimpressed. "But, I cannot let you go out into the world without backup" the hokage finished before taking another sip of his tea. With a sigh he put his tea cup on the table and looked his grandson in the eyes. He was not surprised by the change in the blondes demeanor.
"You have experienced spiritual awakening" Naruto stated not as a question but as a fact. Hiruzen nodded before chuckling.
"You know I used to have bright green eyes before but when I awakened, they turned a murky dark brown and my mother was livid. It was funny watching the two strongest men in the village get put on their knees and scolded like children" he finished with another chuckle as he reminisced about the past.
The blonde said nothing, he just stared at the man in front of him taking in all the things he had never noticed before his awakening. He had to admit, his grandfather was a BADASS.
Hiruzen finished his tea while Naruto had not even touched the cup. Sighing the older man put his hands above his head and stretched. "So" the man began "I'm coming with you" he finished this time shocking Naruto.
Naruto sat up straight, his eyes sharpening. "You cannot, the village needs you now. You cannot leave your post with all the forces that are threatening to destroy our village. The God of Shinobi cannot leave" Naruto replied with conviction.
The older man replied without breaking eye contact "I will not be gone for long; half a year or 1 would be enough for me to train you up to where i'm comfortable with you traveling alone." the man replied.
"But who will take up the mantle while you are gone?" Naruto asked worriedly for the village.
The hokage scoffed "For a person treated worse than horseshit you care a lot for this place." Hizuren scoffed out.
Naruto looked surprised at the man. Cursing seemed… wrong coming out of his mouth. "When I awoke I didn't just spiritually awaken but also acquired Spiritual Wisdom" Naruto replied finally breaking eye contact with the man and taking a sip from his tea.
His grandfather sitting across him broke into a small smile. "Ah you and I both" he replied getting up to grab the tea pot and filled him another helping. He placed the teapot in the middle of the table on a wooden moat.
Naruto looked curiously at his grandfather and connected the dots quickly. The reason his grandfather was able to advance past his rivals and outmaneuver his opponents through war was because he had unlocked his spiritual wisdom as well.
Finishing his cup of tea and pouring another helping Naruto asked "who is going to be replacing you for the time being?" The hokage broke out into a smile.
"Oh don't worry about that" Hiruzen said smirking the whole time. The older man summoned a monkey spirit, gave it a letter and sent it off. "I got that covered. We should be able to leave by tonight if he is within our borders. One and a half if he is across the world" he finished cackling evilly.
Naruto sweatdropped at his grandfather. 'When did he write that letter… and was it him who made orochimaru crazy' Naruto thought creeped out. He had never seen a hokage like this.
Hiruzen looked at Naruto's clock and sighed. "I have to be getting back to work, I have a bunch of paperwork to sign before I can transfer lead to my… temporary replacement. Once I get an update I will send one of my summons to catch you up with the details. Sounds good?" Hiruzen said while making his way to the door.
Naruto nodded and without a confirmation the old man walked out of his apartment and shut the door.
With a new found vigor Naruto got back in his meditative position and began to fall back into the core. Unfortunately the hokage opened the door and peeked his head through with an annoyed face.
"If I have to go to work and suffer you have to go to school and suffer. Get up" he said before slamming the door. Naruto shook his head and scoffed.
'The old man is mental. I'm 100% sure orochimaru is his fault' he thought before a loud pounding came from his door.
"Hurry it up! What are you doing, putting makeup on?" he heard the man obnoxiously say as he continued to pound.
Naruto scoffed again "Spiritual wisdom my ass" he grumbled before exiting the door and heading to the academy.
Shinobi Academy 10 minutes later…
Iruka made it back to the academy in between classes. He put up fake smiles for his students, his friend Mizuki and his peer but inside he was worried. His worry was misplaced as he believed that Naruto wanted to leave Konoha forever and that the hokage approved it.
5 minutes before the next class began Iruka was seated on the raised teachers podium at the front of the class. The room was big with 6 rows and 3 columns. In between each column a walkway of stairs as each row was elevated; lowest closest to the podium and tallest at the back of the class.
The class itself was less than a quarter full; the usual group really. Shikamaru Nara, a short pineapple shaped hair boy. He wore a fishnet hybrid shirt with black pants and black open toe sandals. He sat in the back middle row with his best friend Chouji Akamichi, a plump boy with a heart of gold and a stomach of iron. On each of his cheeks were red swirls and in his hand his trusty friend; potato chips.
Down a row all the way to the right by the window was Sasuke Uchiha, the sole survivor of the Uchiha clan massacre. His older brother being the assailant, he has made his whole life based on attaining revenge. He was pale with black hair with spikes more tamed than Naruto's. On each side of his face were bangs reaching his chin. He also wore a blue Uchiha high collared shirt and white shorts; On his feet were open toed blue sandals.
Last in the front row all the way to the left was Shino Aburame, a brown haired boy who wore a huge light gray coat to cover up his body. If looked at closely you could see the bugs going in and out of the skin of his hands.
Ring!
Iruka sighed again for what seemed to be the thousandth time that day. It was only midday and his mind was not present. 'Maybe I should take a sick day?' Iruka thought while the class filed in.
Iruka was about to tell his friend Mizuki about him leaving early before two people walked up to him. The first thing he caught was the long blonde and pink hair. Iruka sighed again. "What is it Ino… Sakura?" He was not in the mood to hear them bash his little brother again. Instead he was greeting with something different than he expected.
"Um, Iruka-sensei. Naruto hasn't come to class in a while, is he ok?" Sakura, the pink haired one asked. She was petite which was to be expected of a 10 year old but even so she was skinnier than every girl in class. She wore a pink and red dress which turned into a skirt when it reached her waist. Underneath she wore black tights reaching to her knees.
"Yeah, he hasn't been here in awhile. I hate to admit it but… this place is really boring without him" the blonde followed up. She wore an armless purple dress which also turned into a skirt. Instead of black tights her thighs were wrapped in bandages. She also wore a purple scarf around her neck matching her dress.
Iruka looked surprised at this turnout. Before he could respond a loud brash voice broke through the room. "Yeah! That asshole, why does he get 10 days off when we're all here slaving away listening to boring lectures!"
This was Kiba Inuzuka, a slightly muscular youth who had a feral look to him. He was one of the tallest out of the class just behind shino. His brown hair was patted down by the gray hoodie he wore. He also wore black pants and was never seen without his partner Akamaru, an white, inuzuka breeded dog.
After his claims the class broke out into shouts. Most of the claims were that Naruto was skipping and Iruka was covering for him. Iruka began channeling Chakra to his head and vocal cords to do his famous demon head technique when the door opened loudly. All conversation stopped as they looked who was coming in.
Once they saw the orange they knew who it was. "NARUTO!" Sakura yelled with a smile on her face. 'He can save us from dying of boredom please please do something stupid please!' She thought he was hoping he would kick his delinquency 10 fold for a mission the past 10 days.
Instead Kiba and Akamaru were in front of him slashing his claws to his cut and biting him. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IDIOT '' Sakura yelled while the rest of the class watched on in shock. Even Sasuke took a second from looking out the window to see what was going on.
The attack did not hit as Naruto jumped back avoiding the attack.
Akamaru and Kiba began growling "That is not Naruto! Who are you!" he angrily claimed. His body tense ready to launch another attack at the imposter.
'What is Kiba on about of course this is Naruto. He is slim, wears that awful orange jumpsuit and blonde spiky hair! His eyes are ev- wha' her thoughts cut when Naruto's eyes were revealed. Instead of the magnificent blue she was used to they were dark, as if no light were being reflected from them. A blackhole.
Kiba growled again "Who are you and what have you done to Naruto!" Kiba demanded again while getting ready to jump. Iruka jumped in between the two stopping Kiba. "Sensei!?" Kiba cried asking why their sensei was defending an imposter.
Instead of getting a response Iruka walked over to Naruto standing in arms reach. Their eyes met and Iruka froze. What if Kyuubi took over Naruto? If Naruto is watching right now as the Kyuubi controlled his every move. 10 days is a lot of time for the king of all tailed beasts to break free. He had to share this wit- huh. The look Naruto was giving him; he knew that look from anywhere. Deep beneath the darkness was a light, the same light Naruto's eyes always shined when he had done something mischievous.
Putting his right hand on his shoulder Iruka smiled "Welcome back Naruto".
"Thank you Sensei" Naruto said with a small bow before walking past him to take a seat. Everyone had looked at him with shock.
Naruto, showing respect to anyone? SINCE WHEN
"Kiba might have been on to something"
"Maybe we should report it to the Hokage"
"Mmm Troublesome"
"Hn"
All these whispers were heard by Naruto as he made his way to a seat but he never broke his indifferent expression. Sakura stood on the 4th row of the stairs Naruto was passing hoping he would say hello to her.
SO I CAN SHUT HIM DOWN AGAIN SHANNARO *Cue explosions*
Instead he walked right past her up to the last row and took a seat in the furthest right corner, a table which no one sat in.
Everyone looked at him weirdly as he always tried to ask Sakura on a date and even sit next to her just to get shut down. One thought ran through everyone's mind, even Sasukes. What happened to Naruto in the past 10 days.
30 Minutes later…
The tense atmosphere had not let up in fact it had gotten even worse. Iruka was sitting unresponsive so Mizuki took control of the class. The rest of the class while facing forward were in fact not paying attention. Every now and then they would turn and look at Naruto. He was sitting there staring out the window not making any noise, causing any trouble or… doing Naruto things!
Even Mizuki couldn't take it any longer and decided to get the brat to speak. "Naruto! What is the solution to this equation?" he asked with a spiciness to his voice.
Naruto didn't turn his head, only his eyes for a second. He turned his eyes back to the window. "47 degrees" he said shocking Mizuki.
"C-correct" Mizuki admitted shocking most of the class as the problem on the board was not an easy problem. It was even harder to do mentally. While the whole class was freaking out Naruto was surprised. He shouldn't know that answer… but he did. Not that he knew the answer right away but he was able to do the math efficiently in his mind.
'So this is the power of Spiritual Wisdom huh' he thought allowing the smallest of smiles to appear on his face. Mizuki began writing problems from a book on the board that Jounin level Ninja would have hard times answering.
Before he could ask Naruto glanced at the problems for a second and answered. "213.4, 67.4 degrees, physically impossible" he said as if it were a matter of fact before turning back to the window.
The book from Mizuki's hand fell, his mouth wide open. 'What the fuck is going on' he thought to himself. The class was thinking the same and decided to expose the blonde.
"Sensei that isn't correct right? He just got lucky the first time and is making up answers now?" an unimportant boy asked.
Mizuki regained his bearings and cleared his throat "No, everything he said was correct" surprising the entire class. Even Shikimaru was shocked as it took him at least 4 seconds to solve the problems.
'Interesting but oh so troublesome *plop*'
Mizuki was about to begin his lecture when a small monkey appeared on the teachers stand on the podium. Mizuki tried to talk to the summons of the hokage but he was ignored, instead the monkey was searching the students for his recipient.
"Ah found you" the spirit said before teleporting to the desk Naruto sat at. Naruto turned to the monkey, accepted the letter from him and nodded. The monkey nodded before disappearing.
"A letter from hokage-sama"
"What is going on…"
Whispers began to circulate the room as Naruto began opening the letter. Sasuke looked intrigued now. Just like him the whole class was wondering what was in the letter but before they could ask what that was about Naruto stood up, packed his things and made his way to the front of the class.
He stood in front of Iruka still in a dazed state and shook him. "OY Sensei!" He tried to reach him but failed. He frowned. "brother" Naruto said startling the class and Mizuki with the level of familiarity the gesture carried. Iruka's eyes cleared and snapped to Naruto.
"Little brother" Iruka replied. Naruto gave him a small smile.
"It's time for me to go…" he trailed off.
'Go where' was the question circulating through the class.
Iruka held a small frown. He didn't approve of what Naruto was doing but if his leader approved he had to swallow that pill. "It's already that time huh…" he said standing up from his seat. He held his arms up straight in a 'come here' pose. Naruto did the same and gave him a huge.
When they broke Naruto began walking towards the door. He opened the door and walked halfway out then stopped; His hand resting on the frame. He turned his head back and smoothly said "I'll see you soon…brother" before going out the door and never looking back.
A couple of hearts skipped a beat there, even some guys.
Iruka stood there, trying to grasp what was going on. 'I may not know where you are going or why you are leaving but… come home safe otouto' he thought a hopeful smile on his face before turning around and grilling his students for slacking in their studies.
Hokage's Office 10 minutes later…
Naruto was surprised at how fast he got an update. Whatever his grandfather threatened this person with must have been very important for them to be in Konoha this fast. He opened the door to the hokages office and saw a huge man with cascading white hair. His old fashion clothing and headplate with the title 'Toad sage' immediately told Naruto who he was.
Before he could speak, Hokage spoke. "Ah, Naruto. Come in, I was just finishing the paperwork for my student here to take over for my time gone." the hokage spoke while the white haired man was… sulking in one of the two seats in front of him.
The while haired man named Jiraiya was going to complain to his sensei but was just told off with 'I don't care' or 'suck it up'. Naruto took the other unoccupied seat in front of the hokage and got comfortable. He looked over to the Toad sage and began to be curious. The man had yet to look at him.
"Did I mention that Jiraiya here is your godfather?" the hokage casually spilled out making the toad sage break out hysterically. His face was wide open and panic'd as he began to sputter.
"S-sensei! What the hell" Jiraiya yelled out as the man had dropped his most shameful secrets. He had planned to tell his godson on his own terms but now that it was out he put his head down. Would his godson be disgusted by him? Want nothing to do with him? Will he-
His inner muse was silenced by a hand held in front of him. "Hello father, my name is Naruto Uzumaki. It is good to finally meet you" Naruto addressed himself. Jiraya looked up into his godson's eyes for the first time and didn't find what he believed he would find. The most prevalent was longing, second was understanding and lastly the strongest was love.
Jiraiya didn't understand as he clenched his fist. He jumped out of his seat and went to the floor on his knees and bowed; his head touching the ground towards his greatest failure. "I am sorry!" the man screamed in passion.
Naruto was silent as the man's head touched the ground then he smiled and laughed. Naruto grabbed the man's hands and began pulling him up to his feet. "Even though it is not necessary to do so I forgive you. If you would have stayed here with me and abandoned your duty I would have been disappointed" Naruto said making his godfathers eyes go wide.
"I… do not understand," the white haired man replied. His godson was nothing like he believed him to be.
Naruto did his own bow taking his right fist in his left hand. "If you were here my life would have been easier" the youth began making his god father winced. "But, by not being here I have matured in ways I would not have. In your absence you have given me a safer village to grow in. For that I thank you." Naruto finished still in a bow.
His godfather took his hands making him look up. Again, he looked in the blondes eyes for any deception. The deeper he dug the more the more surprised he became. He was convinced that the bo-no man in front of him was telling the truth. Jiraiya sighed. "I am unworthy of such a welcoming" he said truly feeling as such.
Naruto smiled. "And yet it is the welcoming I am giving you. Please, accept it" Naruto replied switching their hands so his hands were cupping the larger man's. The hole in the toad sages heart began to fill. When it was all full a fire could be seen coming out of his eyes.
"Before you leave allow this old fool to take his grandson out" he relied with vigor. He had made up his mind. From now on he would do whatever his grandson needed of him; whether taking over the village or dying to hold off ten thousand enemies.
The hokage meanwhile was pouting 'I had been trying to make him take over the village for an hour with no leeway and Naruto comes in and makes him into jello in a heartbeat. Oh yeah, fuck the man who basically raised you Jiraiya you ungrateful shi-' the hokage thoughts continued as they continued talking.
Jiraiya signed the papers his teacher had been trying to get him to sign before turning to his godson. "How about we get some lunch?" he said hopefully. Naruto returned that with a smile. Before he left he took a piece of paper and pen, wrote on it and left it in front of his grandfather.
"Let's go" Naruto said grabbing his father's hand leading him out the door.
Konoha's Western Gate 8 hours later…
It was night time for the konoha residents. The cool crisp air kneading through the trees and grass gave off a calm whisper. As store owners closed their businesses and students made their way home from their group of friends Naruto stood at the gates, waiting.
He laid his back to one of the trees surrounding the gates. This gate in particular was the least inhabited with villagers. Instead, ever growing nature thrived here giving the place a vibe of secludedness. The gateguards sat at their checkpoint near the gate checking the clock in the booth religiously. In 10 minutes they would close the gates and go back into civilization to party.
Naruto closed his eyes and began to recall his bonding time with his father. The man had asked about himself, his dreams, about his friends and… potential lovers. Naruto in turn told him all about his life in konoha, that he didn't know what his dream was. About his grandfather and older brother who looked out for him. The topic of lovers however lead into a deep discussion. Naruto stated he was too young to have such thoughts.
Jiraiya however opened up to him telling him of his first love Tsunade, the slug sannin. For hours Naruto sat and listened as Jiraiya painted him a vivid picture of her. Naruto could clearly see the man was lovestricken and yet had not made any progress in his 44 years of life. He had also learned the man's deepest secret that could ruin him... the man was a virgin.
Naruto was surprised to learn that as he knew the type of books he wrote but the man admitted that he had no trouble bedding women but every time he tried his mind would wander elsewhere… Tsunade. At that point Naruto made up his mind, he would help his father on his journey of gaining the affection of the Slug Sannin.
Naruto heard someone hit the ground next to him and got up from his seated position. He looked at his grandfather and nodded. His grandfather nodded back. "Let us go" he said before signing out at the booth.
"Safe travels hokage-sama!" the two went to the middle of the humongous gate and bowed as the two went on their way. Once they were out of sight they closed the gate and went to retrieve the sign in/out sheet and made their way home.
"Hey Izumo '' one of the guards began as they walked down the path to the village center.
"Hmm?" Izumo hummed back.
"Who was that person with hokage-sama?" the other guard asked curiously. The person had been wearing a huge black coat with his head down.
Izumo scoffed. "Does it matter kotetsu? He was with hokage-sama. That's none of our business" he said ending the discussion there.
The now named kotetsu seemed a little miffed at his friend's response. "Yeah yeah…" he returned before putting his hands above his head in a stretch. A perverted smile made its way on his face "Let go to the broken log… Maybe we will find some honey's to take home with us" he said as a perverted smile made its way on Izumo's face.
"ONWARDS COMRADE!" Izumo yelled as they both ran full speed to turn in the sign in sheet and to the bar. They did not get lucky that night.