Team-Bonding
I know some things came before or after what was in the Anime or Manga, but I've decided to place my own chronology on this.
This chapter is going to be a bit angsty for Naruto. Memories will arise and he'll deal with them. I must say, however, that if Gaara was not within this story, it'd be a lot more sad.
Gaara ran as fast as he could from the shinobi chasing after him. The seven year old laughed silently as some of the paint in his bucket spilled and landed all over the ground.
"Come back here, you damn child!" One of the chunin yelled harshly, but as Gaara looked back, there was no intent to hurt him in their eyes. In fact, it seemed as if he'd been their entertainment for the day.
He laughed even more as he ran through the market part of town, getting paint all over the fruit.
"Gaara, get back here!" Some yelled.
"Sorry!" he yelled. When he turned back and continued sprinting from the shinobi, he missed the shaking of ANBU's head who were watching him, protecting him at the request of Naruto and the now dead fourth hokage.
They apologized to the market sellers and paid the damages.
Gaara's eye crinkled as he ran faster and faster, accidently running into Hanabi Hyuga and knocking her over. Hinata hid her giggle as Hiashi frowned, wishing Gaara would be more like his brother.
He raised his fist in the air. "Gaara, you brat. Wait until your brother hears about this!"
Just as the redhead turned to apologize, he realized he was too far away to apologize. When he turned back, Gaara's face hit something really hard.
He groaned and looked up into the mismatched eyes of his older brother and the deep scowl on the tan face. Gaara placed his hands behind his back and blushed.
Naruto shook his head and dropped his own bucket of paint. "I beat you and you know it. In fact, I've been waiting here for more than two minutes."
Gaara frowned and stomped as Naruto harshly squeezed his nose. "But old man Hiruzen almost caught me and I had to hurry."
Naruto shook his head again. "No excuse." He held up his empty bucket of orange paint. "I painted the whole hokage monument and got away from everyone."
Gaara stuck his tongue out. "You have special Namikaze powers."
Another nose squeeze. "So do you."
Gaara frowned. This was the best part of his training. Naruto had been training him for some time now, easily putting Gaara at the top of his class in the academy.
He knew everything, but the best part was the race. This was when training ended and Naruto would challenge him to an art war, where both boys would see how long it took them to finish vandalizing something.
Naruto had the Hokage's monument while Gaara had chosen the the first hokage's statue at the valley at the end.
He lost this time because some shinobi had found him as well as the third hokage.
The two glared at one another for a long while, Naruto with his arms crossed and Gaara with his fist tightened.
Eventually, Naruto placed a hand on Gaara's hair and messed it up. "This can only call for icecream. You can't go faster on an empty stomach."
Gaara cheered eventually and began to walk in stride with his aniki. "Big brother, are you excited for your graduation tomorrow?"
"More or less so. I won't have any competition, but teme. Maybe I shouldn't go."
Gaara's eyes widened and Naruto waited patiently. "But you have to big brother. All of my friends will call me a liar if you don't graduate at the top of the class."
"Eh? Then I guess I will, but next time don't make bets on me."
Gaara nodded with a smile. "Do you get on teams?"
"Of course, Gaara. Don't forget your lessons. I may be on the team with a dead-last."
Gaara smiled as Naruto handed him the other half of his popsicle. "But if that happens, you won't be on the team with Sasuke."
"No trust me, they'll put me on the team with Sasuke." Naruto grimaced. Knowing that Sasuke was the only one in the village that could nearly tame him, they'd definitely put him on the team with Sasuke.
"Who else would you like on your team?"
Naruto rubbed his chin and bit into his popsicle. "I'd say either Shikamaru or Hinata. He may be lazy, but he's good. She may be quiet, but she's smart and tough."
Gaara blushed. "Hanabi said that Hinata likes you."
Naruto raised a brow. "Really?" He had always been dense when it came to signalling infatuation. Sasuke had once called him dead-last when the Namikaze asked why Hinata was blushing.
Then again, he saw her blush around Shikamaru too. Or was it the other way around. Before his eyes widened to comedic proportions, the two brothers were joined by someone else.
"How are my two misfits?"
Both looked to see the Third standing there with a large smile. Gaara waved. "Hi, Hokage Hiruzen old man. Sorry about Hashi-hokage's face. We were just talking about Naruto's team."
The old man came to sit down. "That is if he graduates, which I know he will. You're brother is very aspiring, Gaara."
The blond blushed, but attempted to look tough before his otouto. "I'm right here."
Hiruzen laughed. "We know, silly. Have you been practicing?"
"No, just training Gaara and spending as much time with him as I can."
The man nodded and the three began to talk for hours.
After spending much time with the third hokage, Naruto was urged to spend some time training. While Gaara went to the Uchiha manor to hang out with everyone and Shisui, who was his 'ultimate favorite friend' now, Naruto and the hokage walked around.
"I know who will be on my team, old man." Naruto stated, noticing the curious glances as he walked side by side with the hokage. "At least one person."
Hiruzen looked to Naruto and gave in. "For both your safety. Fugaku Uchiha requested that so you and Sasuke could keep one another in line. Do you know the other member?"
Naruto shook his head and the hokage seemed to leave it at that.
"Hey, old man!" Naruto and the third turned to see a boy in a yellow shit and blue scarf. Naruto recognized him as Konohamaru, one of Gaara's friends, but that was all he knew of him.
"I'm going to take you down then take your title!"
Naruto watched as the seven year old began running up to them with a kunai, but with only two steps, he fell flat onto his face.
When the blond looked closer, he could see that a chakra string had tripped Konohamaru. He looked up to see an ANBU on the roof. Knowing the ninja was joking around, Naruto sniggered a little, watching as the ANBU gave a thumbs up and then slid back into the shadows.
Hiruzen saw the ANBU as well and face palmed himself. When Konohamaru got up, he glared at Naruto.
"What's your problem, jerk?" Naruto raised a brow as Konohamaru walked closer. "You tripped me!"
"No. I didn't." Naruto stated calmly.
Konohamaru stuck his tongue out and just as Naruto raised a fist, someone yelled. "Stop! Don't you dare hit the third hokage's honorable grandson."
Naruto froze and looked to a lanky man with dark clothes and glasses. Then to the hokage who seemed highly embarrassed at the attention and then to Konohamaru who was smirking.
"Ha, now you can't hit me. Did you hear ugly Ebisu-sensei?" Naruto growled, his anger growing. "You can't hit me."
Naruto calculated the outcome of this. He could be tried. Kurama and Shukaku were screaming yes; Saiken, Son Gokū, and Gyūki reasoned no. He could get into a heap of trouble, but still….
His fist connected with Konohamaru's head as the ground cracked and pushed upward. Naruto glew a bright yellow as he yelled and his horns grew. "Listen you, little shit! I don't care if he was your damn grandmother, you don't question me!"
Hiruzen mumbled a 'I'm getting to old for this' as Ebisu yelped and went to help Konohamaru. On the other hand, Konohamaru was staring dazed in awe at Naruto.
The blond crossed his arms and subdued his powers, smirking with his eyes closed. 'The kid's pretty tough, just like Gaara.'
"Please train me." Was his plea as Naruto turned away. He stood and followed the blond. "Please train me? I don't want to be trained by Ebisu anymore."
"Whatever. I'm already training someone."
Konohamaru grabbed onto Naruto's legs. "Ask Gaara if I can train with you two, please. I have to be stronger to be hokage."
Naruto pushed the kid off. "Listen. I can't. Then we'll be fighting because I'm going to be hokage." Konohamaru's eyes widened. "I'll tell you what. Me training you depends on Gaara. You ask him."
Konohamaru smiled and began to run away, waving harshly. "Thanks, boss!"
Naruto grimaced, fighting the urge to smile. He knew Gaara would practically beg him for he and Konohamaru to be trained together.
He looked at the dimming sky. It was time to get Gaara, get home, and sleep for the exam the next day.
The Next Day
Naruto frowned as he walked into the classroom. No one but Sasuke was here. He didn''t know why it was always a surprise. It was always like this. It had become a routine, so obvious that maybe Sasuke knew it.
His frown wasn't due to the fact that Naruto and Sasuke had fought and stopped talking, Nor was it anything so subtle. It was because Naruto's desires were killing him, really.
He'd once woken up having a seizure from a dream about the Uchiha. Thanking Kami and Chi that Gaara wasn't in the room, Naruto began to place the green in a container at his side. Next time he'd have a physical attack, he'd be strong enough to reach it.
The dream seizure had lasted for ten minutes and Naruto's bed and dresser had been ruined because of it.
This was why the Namikaze did his best to avoid Sasuke only speaking to him at school. He had even decided that Sasuke would not be good for him.
SInce Gaara was too young, Naruto would have to produce an heir for the Namikaze and he solely needed to focus on two things; making sure his younger brother could stand against the world and taking his older brother from it.
That had been Pein's request, right? For Naruto to get strong enough and kill him. Naruto would do it, but what would be his gain?
Was he an avenger? No, he was a hero and a he monster.
In order to get over Sasuke, Naruto had become completely infatuated with Sakura, a female that could give him an heir. He looked at Sasuke and he crossed out everything except rivalry and best friend. He pretended to make Sakura nice and pretty.
It was the only way.
Sasuke glanced at him and said nothing as Naruto sat down. He knew Naruto was attempting to be quiet. But, it wouldn't last long. They'd have to open up about Naruto's fears eventually. Was it Pein again? Was it what the villagers said about him? Hikari's monster?
"Why are you staring at me?" Naruto growled in obnoxious anger.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Just wondering when you're going to stop being a scaredy-cat and talk to me."
That got the blond. He twisted fully toward Sasuke with a hard glare. "Take that back, bastard."
"Stop avoiding me, dead-last."
"I'm not." he argued.
Sasuke grew annoyed. "You are. Is it your brother again? Are you stuck in the vengeful state again?"
Naruto frowned and looked away. "No." he mumbled.
Sasuke sighed and bumped shoulders with his best friend. "You are." he whispered.
"I'm not."
Another bump. "Are too."
Naruto sighed. "Am not. So stop that."
Another bump and the blond had to cover his mouth to stop from laughing. Another bump. He growled and leaned up.
Grabbing Sasuke by the collar, the blond slammed their foreheads together, their faces only centimeters apart. So close that Sasuke's ragged breath from shock, tickled the blond's lips.
"Didn't I say stop, teme?"
They watched one another for a moment, foreheads still in contact, until Naruto licked over his fangs and Sasuke pushed him away, wiping his clothes with a deep frown.
"Idiot." he mumbled.
Naruto frowned and rested his chin in his palm. This was the problem. Sasuke would never see him the way he saw the Uchiha. And that killed him. So he succumbed his desires.
"You'll never understand how I feel." Naruto grumbled. He was talking about his love for the Uchiha, but Sasuke assumed he meant about his obsession to defeat Pein.
"I don't need need to walk in your shoes to know how you feel. All I have to do is look in your eyes."
He stared at Naruto for the longest moment and frowned. "Love?" he questioned. Naruto tensed. Had Sasuke saw it so quickly?
Would he call him disgusting? Tell him his feelings were wrong?
"Dobe, Sakura doesn't like you and she never will."
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. He eyes did show saddened love, but not for Sakura. He assumed he'd play the part.
"She'll give in one day, teme. You're just jealous."
"Jealous of being degraded. All she does it treat you like shit."
"She doesn't!" Naruto lied, pretending to be angry.
Sasuke frowned. "How idiotic can you get, Naruto? She hates you and likes me."
Even if his didn't care, that one stung. There it was again. The heavy feeling in his chest. Right now, he wanted to close his eyes and sleep. He didn't want to talk anymore. It hurt.
"Teme if you want her, you can have her." It was mumbled quietly. Sasuke sighed.
"Don't even joke like that." He stated in monotone.
"I wasn't joking." Naruto laid his head down, still feeling depressed.
"Well good." Came the incredulous reply. "Because it wasn't funny!"
Sasuke knew and Naruto knew the blond was beat. He leaned his face against the desk and his shoulders heaved as he laughed. When the blond lifted himself, his face was red and tears were leaking from his eyes.
Eventually, Sasuke let out a chuckle too. Both calmed down and a tan arm was placed around Sasuke's shoulder. Who the hell was he kidding? He couldn't avoid Sasuke. It would hurt, but for the sake of his sanity, Sasuke would always be an important factor in his life.
Thinking of Chi's words when the woman found out about his little desire, Naruto decided he could be patient for Sasuke or he could move on.
The latter was the best choice.
"Oh, Teme. You and that personality. You always find a way to make me laugh."
Sasuke stuck his nose in the air, his small arrogance showing. "That's because I'm funny."
Naruto watched the pretty pale features before placing his and Sasuke's forehead together again. Only this time, it had been platonic and Sasuke was smiling.
"No, asshole. It's because your my best friend."
"Told you." The Uchiha spoke. He and Naruto kept their foreheads together for a long while, still having that little laugh in them.
When the door opened, Naruto moved back, smiling as the other students walked in, smiling wider when Sakura walked in.
However, he said nothing to her. Just then Sakura walked over to Naruto's seat and crossed her arms. "Move it, Naruto. I'm sitting next to Sasuke."
Naruto thought for a moment. In order to make it seem like he liked her, he'd have to get up. But, then again, he wanted to sit with Sasuke.
"Sit somewhere else, Sakura." Everyone turned to Sasuke, who kept his eyes up front. "He was here first."
Everyone knew Sasuke and Naruto had history before the academy. Everyone knew they were nearly inseparable best friends. Some understood, some didn't.
Naruto watched as Sakura blushed dramatically and scurried to the seat next to Naruto's. Sasuke smirked at him and Naruto wiggled his eyebrows, making both boys silently laugh.
Kiba Inuzuka turned around with a smile. "What are you two always laughing about?"
Sasuke glared. "None of your bus-"
"Just silly things we do or say." Naruto cut his friend off.
Kiba glared at Sasuke, but then turned around. "Why'd you cut me off?" Sasuke whispered. "It's funny to you when I tell Kiba off."
Naruto shook his head. "You'll have to be nice. What if any of these kids are on our team?"
This made the pale boy sneer. "I hope you're on my team. Only you know my fighting style."
"Not sure about that one, teme. We're both at the top of the class."
"We'll be on the same team." Sasuke assured himself.
Naruto just turned to the front of the classroom as Iruka-sensei walked in. "Alright, class. I hope you're all ready for your exam because we're starting immediately."
Some students groaned.
"This is pretty basic. All you have to do is perform a henge, create two shadow clones, and perform a jutsu learned."
Naruto raised a fist, excited about showing off his skills. "Alright! I can't wait to show off my power. Right, Sasuke?"
A girl voice from the back snorted. "Like Sasuke wou-"
Before she could continue, Sasuke put his head down with his eyes closed. "Hn. I guess you're right."
Naruto smiled as Iruka clapped once, getting their attentions. "Mizuki and I will be in the next room. First up; Shino Aburame."
Hinata waved with a smile. "Good luck, friend."
The bug lover nodded and when he walked out with Iruka, the kids began talking again.
"I wonder if he'll pass." Kiba thought out loud. "I know I will."
Naruto laughed. "If you pass, I'm definitely passing."
Akamaru barked atop Kiba's head in agreement.
A few minutes of silence and then the shy Hyuga in the back lifted her arms to stretch.
Hinata smiled. "Then I'm totally passing. No questions asked."
"Aren't we all so confident." Shikamaru mocked. "It's such a drag to get tested on things we've passed before. If that were the case, we should be jounin now."
Hinata raised a brow to speak, a blush tinting her cheeks, but was cut off by the door opening. In walked Shino, and had Naruto turned, he would have noticed that Shikamaru grew interested.
No matter how lazy he was, they all wanted to graduate. And for what? The feeling of not knowing if you were going to make it? Fighting for nothing? Naruto couldn't fathom why.
Kiba stared. "Did you pass?"
No one said anything until the bug boy lifted Konoha Hitai-ate in his hand. A crackle of cheering went on as Sasuke sighed in annoyance and Naruto bumped shoulders with him.
It went on like that for a while. Chouji passed, Sakura, Hinata, Kiba, Shikamaru.
Then it was Sasuke's turn; after that Naruto and Ino.
Shikamaru walked in and nodded to Sasuke, who stood immediately. Some girls in the back squealed and Naruto sighed in annoyance.
There wasn't much Sasuke could do with everyone watching, but Naruto saw it. Sasuke gave him one last look that said 'You better pass this after I do,' a simple nod and then he was gone.
Naruto smiled sadly. What mattered to his twelve year old mind was not the reason Sasuke was required to leave, but the stillness of waiting on the Uchiha's return
Without Sasuke, he was surrounded yet isolated. Even in the midst of friends, Naruto felt like a monster, a destroyer. He felt like Hikari's monster. The thought made him grimace. His life was the riddle.
He was both the enemy and not the enemy.
He laid his head down and waited patiently, knowing that Sasuke would finish quickly.
There was a tap on his shoulder and the blond looked up to see his friend standing there, Hitai-ate in his hand. "You're on, dobe."
Naruto nodded and walked into the room with Iruka and Mizuki. The scarred man smiled. "Show us what you have, Namikaze."
Naruto smirked.
Iruka stood before all of the passing children, smiling softly at each and every one of them. "I'm very proud of you all. I always knew you'd do great things.
No matter how quiet you were." He looked to Hinata, who had gotten top Kunoichi of the year. "Or how much of a troublemaker you were." To Naruto who only smiled sheepishly.
Naruto had made rookie of the year by a single point higher than Sasuke, but none of that mattered. To most, Sasuke was still the best, and to Naruto, he'd passed. He was getting stronger.
Iruka crossed his arms. "With great things comes great responsibility. Now it's time to be responsible young adults you'll soon become. The life of the shinobi is not just picking weeds and helping the elderly.
It's not any of have to fight for what you believe. It won't be easy. There will be death in your lives that no one can imagine."
Some children grew quiet, others looked at Naruto, and Sasuke had stared them down.
Recently, death was all he knew.
Naruto watched with tear filled eyes a Chi placed a dead rabbit they'd found into the pit of her fire. It was her proper burial for all things dead.
She would burn them to ashes and let their souls roam, and place them in a box to keep it safe.
From where he was sitting, he could feel the fire, hot and dry, on his face. Chi has been using a handkerchief to chase away mosquitoes diving around them, but now she is patting Naruto's face to clear his tears.
Before she speaks, she scoops the ashes and places them within a box for safe keeping. It was strange to think that the coffin would soon be touched by the yellow-ish red streaked light.
And what of the rabbit?
He will turn to ashes, Chi tells him, on this mountain tonight.
She turned to Naruto again. "Nen nen. Without doubt, the young heal easily. It is an easy matter for young. Rabbit has been old for long time."
Iruka smiled. "But, there will also be many memories for you to enjoy. Friends to make on your journeys."
Naruto put his head down, not liking that the images came up now. His memories, the most vivid, had been weeks before the incident.
Things that he remembered were things that he saw and had he known, could have stopped the massacre.
His father when he kissed Naruto's forehead and said goodnight. How the hokage would mumble things outside their rooms. "Itsuka, mata Itsuka. Someday, someday again."
He'd been waiting for the day. That someday where his family would return to normal and the village accepted his son. The day his family could rest. They never did.
Or his mother, hugging and speaking in hushed whispers to Minato at night. The memories, for Naruto, were always drowned in a whirlpool of protective silence.
"Kodomo no tame. For the sake of the children."
It had been like that and it had ended like that. No communication at all.
"Naruto! Naruto are you listening? I asked you a question." Naruto broke from to stare at Iruka, who stood before the class glaring.
"Sorry sensei." The blond mumbled.
Sasuke smirked. Was it all he could do today, Naruto thought. "Pay attention, dobe."
Naruto balled his fist and grit his teeth. "When we're out of here, I'm gonna kick your ass-"
"Hey!" Iruka called. "Naruto if you don't fix up your act, you're out of here."
"Bu-"
"I don't want to hear it. If you and Sasuke can't get along, you're both out of here. For the sake of this village, you two better not be on the same team."
The blond slouched in his chair. "Just because we're rivals doesn't mean we're not friends." But no one had heard him.
Naruto drowned out his sensei for a minute until he would hear his own name.
"Team seven: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno…." Naruto smiled a little as Sakura groaned. He still seemed anxious. If anything, he wanted Sasuke with him.
Fighting and growing together back to back and face to face.
Iruka's eyes widened slightly and Naruto smiled. "And Sasuke Uchiha." Sakura stood and cheered and Sasuke groaned a little, seemingly caught between happiness and bitterness.
Naruto smiled a bit and placed his hand cautiously on Sasuke's shoulder. Everything grew quiet as the raven turned to his friend. Mirroring Naruto's smile, the Uchiha fist-bumped the blond.
"It's a good thing, eh? You and I?"
Naruto smiled even wider. "A great thing."
Iruka cleared his throat. "Uh. Team eight: Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, and Shino Aburame. Team nine is still in rotation from last year. Team ten: Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Chouji Akimichi."
Iruka looked up and smiled. "You may now go and get lunch as you wait for your Jounin senseis. Good luck and remember. If you change nothing, nothing will change."
Naruto grabbed a hold of Sasuke arm and shunshined out of the building. They ended up outside of the building, where Sasuke glared sharply at his friend. "What's your problem. Rushing onto me like that?"
"I saved you from your fan club. Now what do you want to do before we come back?"
Sasuke only walked away, making the blond walk in stride with him. "Hey, bastard. Where are you going?"
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura's voice sounded as she ran over to them. "I found you."
"Told you." Naruto sang near his friend's ear.
When Sakura came near, she payed most of her attention to Sasuke ignoring the blond Namikaze before her. "I wanted to ask if you would like to eat lunch with me."
Sasuke shook his head. "I'm fine." he muttered.
Naruto smiled. "You can join us if you want, Sakura."
The pink haired girl growled, taking her rejectional anger out on him. "Why don't you stay out of other people's business, Naruto." With that, the girl stormed away, but not before waving softly at Sasuke.
Naruto looked after her and shook his head. "I don't know what she sees in you. And you almost said yes to her offer."
"I didn't."
Naruto ignored. "Sakura and Sasuke: friends or foes. Well if you feel that way, I'll go and eat with someone else."
The Namikaze began to walk away when Sasuke stopped him with his voice. "Let's go and see Gaara."
He smiled and turned and again walked next to Sasuke. "On my travels, I didn't need to do all this academy stuff."
A snort. "Are you implying that you learned nothing?"
"No teme. I'm implying that I've learned more than all of that. You and I are not so different. We trained from a young age. You by your father and Itachi. Me by my father and…..Pein."
Sasuke looked at him. Not in pity or anger, just stared at him. The blond smiled slightly and Sasuke looked away. "Tch, idiot."
Before Naruto spoke again, he and Sasuke froze. Their brows rose at the mass amount of people before them. Some were praying, others were crying, holding a book, and one man was standing on a stool.
"Brothers and sisters, we are blessed. The God's have sent us their work. Or should I say her work. Chi, primitus, god of creation, mother to all, first born, everlasting. She is the God we've been worshipping for millennia and now we know how she looks!"
The crowd began cheering as Naruto smirked with his eyes closed. "Chi's going to kill me."
Sasuke sighed. "My mother already had a copy and she and Gaara had been reading it for some time. Chi is a very beautiful woman."
Naruto raised a brow. He'd never heard Sasuke call anything or anyone beautiful. "Teme, if you're trying to get into heaven, that's not going to work. You don't have to be perfect. You know, Chi was the one who told me to embrace my monstrosity."
The two continued walking toward the younger part of the academy. "You're not a monster. At least not the one others try and label you as."
When they reached Gaara's classroom, Naruto thanked the heavens that the class sat outside. "Hi."
Everyone turned to the two, making Sasuke frown deeper.
The schoolteacher smiled at them. "Naruto-kun. What brings you here today."
The blond raised his hitai-ate, watching as Gaara's green eyes widened to comedic proportions. "Just wanted to show my otouto this."
Gaara jumped up and ran over to hug his brother's leg. "Aniki! You're a ninja now." he looked to Sasuke, who stood extremely close to the older Namikaze. "You too, Sasuke."
The Uchiha reached forward and poked Gaara's head hard. "Of course we are."
Gaara's teacher began to speak to her class. "There are many ninja in this world. A leaf ninja, or Shinobi, does everything he can to protect his village. The will of fire runs through her veins as she fights. But, Naruto-kun is a special ninja."
All the children looked at Naruto and the boy blushed. "He holds many powerful powers that help him become both hokage and saviour of the world."
They all gasped. "You have to save the world, Naruto-sama?"
Naruto cleared his throat. "Uh yeah. I do. That's why I train and listen to my teacher. That's what makes me strong."
"What are you saving the world from, Naruto-sama?" This was Moegi's question.
Naruto thought for a moment. He really didn't want to ruin the children's oh so perfect view of the world. Although, Gaara knew about it all. Finally he found a more subtle answer.
"From itself. I'm saving the world from itself."
The children stared in awe. Finally, Hanabi spoke. "Well, I'm going to get super stronger so I can help you when the time comes."
Konohamaru sighed. "Well, I'll be super duper stronger because Gaara wants Naruto-boss to train us both. I'll be helping him."
Gaara laughed. "I've been getting train by him for a long time. He's my brother. When he saves the world…..I'll be right there next to him."
Some of the girls giggled. Naruto deadpanned. Who knew Gaara was the Sasuke of his generation.
"You all get stronger for yourselves. Learn and breath with you own ambitions and dreams. And then only when your strong enough, I expect you to be on the battlefield with me protecting me just as I do you."
The children awwed again began asking Sasuke and Naruto a series of questions. Sasuke was reluctant, but after ten minutes, he lightened up.
"Well, Sasuke and I have to go meet our jounin sensei, so bye."
The teacher's eyes widened. "You two are on the same genin squad."
"Yeah." Naruto mumbled as they walked off.
Sasuke sighed in annoyance. "I don't understand why it's a big deal that we're on the same team."
"It's just that we're too powerful. Imagine if Hinata was on our team. And you're my chain."
"Your chain?"
Naruto grimaced. "Yeah. do you remember how I said you were only partially affected by my power? How I'd have to use about 50 percent to hurt you?"
"Yeah"
"Well, I'm sure the elders assumed you'd keep me under control. Also, the sharingan can wield tailed beasts. Which is not an option, teme. You touch my beasts, I'll fucking destroy this world."
Sasuke smiled, a rare thing. "You protect them."
"They're my family. Besides, I'm currently in the process of creating a seal that protects them from the sharingan, or any other dojutsu. I didn't want to tell them until I fully had it, but you know…."
"Kit" Kyuubi mumbled in a soft tone.
Before he continued, his stomach growled. "Aww, lunch is almost over and we still didn't eat yet."
A shake of the head on the raven's head. "You idiot." he pulled out a scroll and revealed the contents sealed. Two bowls of miso ramen, the one not heavily succumbed with tomatoes was Naruto's. "While you spoke to the children, I had a clone get us ramen."
"Bastard" was Naruto's only soft heartfelt reply as he and Sasuke began eating. They were nearly done when they reached the academy.
Finding only Sakura, Naruto looked around. "Where is everyone?"
A roll of green eyes. "Lunch ended half an hour ago, Naruto-baka. Everyone's sensei came but ours."
"Hm. must not be a good jounin."
They waited for nearly three hours and the blond grew frustrated. "Uh, what the hell kind of jounin doesn't show up on time? That's it."
He stood in anger and grabbed Iruka's eraser. Opening the door, Naruto jumped and clamped the eraser between the door.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke questioned.
"What does it look like? I'm pranking our sensei."
"He's a jounin for a reason, Naruto. He won't sense that."
"Nonsense, Sakura. You can't win of you don't play."
"Neither can you lose." Sasuke mumbled.
"Bunch of babies, the lot of ya." Naruto moved back with a smile, turning to his teammates
"Bunch of smart people." Sakura countered, making googly eyes at Sasuke.
Naruto stuck his tongue out. "Not adventurous-"
Their bickering ceased as the door opened. There was a clanking noise and all turned to stare at a famous jounin they'd heard of some time or another: Kakashi-Hatake, non-Uchiha wielder of the sharingan; copy-nin. Odd thing was, chalk dust covered the top of his head. Naruto grimaced.
This was the same man that refused to train him due to his inabilities when he was younger. So was Asuma Sarutobi. Now this man was their sensei. Could it get worse?
"My first impression of you guys…." The man trailed off, staring one by one at Sasuke's disinterested look, Sakura's baffled, and Naruto's sneering smirk. "I hate you and you hate me."
"Right about both." Naruto sneered. Kakashi stared at him. "Don't you wish you could have trained me now?"
Sighing, Kakashi executed a few hand seals. "Meet me on the roof."
When he poofed away, Sakura skipped out hesitantly and Naruto went to follow. Sasuke grabbed his arm, however.
Looking back, the blond easily melted at his friend's concerned face. "Be nice." was the Uchiha's offer.
Naruto opened his mouth. Sasuke knew about Kakashi. He should have understood. "But-"
"Be nice." The raven spoke a bit louder.
The Namikaze sighed in defeat. "I'll try. If he doesn't teach us anything in the first week, I'll kill him."
"Deal." Sasuke let go of his rival's arm as they walked up the stairs slowly.
As soon as they sat next to Sakura-Sasuke on the far end and Naruto in the middle- Kakashi spoke. "Well, before we begin, why don't you introduce yourselves."
Naruto raised a brow. "You've looked at our files, I bet; ran into our parents before. You know about us, so what else do you want to know?" It was a genuine question.
Kakashi shrugged, his eye crinkling. "Your likes, dislikes, dreams and hobbies."
"Give us an example?" Sakura requested.
"Hm. Me? Well I'm Hatake Kakashi, I have no intentions of telling you my likes or dislikes. As for my dream….hm well I have a few hobbies."
"You didn't tell us anything at all." Sakura stated.
"Gai-sensei's told me a lot about you." Had Naruto looked any closer, he'd have seen the slight eye widen from Kakashi.
"Ah, pinkie. Our first volunteer."
Sakura blushed. "Oh. I'm Sakura Haruno. My likes...Well the person I like…" She glanced in Sasuke's direction and giggled. "My hobbies…" Another glance. "My dreams…" More giggles.
Kakashi deadpanned. "And dislikes."
"Oh. I hate Naruto-baka because he's so annoying."
Naruto raised a brow as Kakashi looked to Sasuke. "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I like my friend and training with my brother. I dislike anything else. My dream is to be seen as equal in the eye's of a certain man."
Naruto snorted as Sasuke glared softly at him. "My name's Naruto Namikaze. I like ramen, and training, and my brother Gaara, and I also like Chi. I dislike those who judge you, the three minutes it takes to make cup ramen, and human nature. I enjoy reading and training. My dreams are to save the world from itself, find out why a certain man did something, and be the greatest hokage this village has ever seen!"
"Very inspiring." Kakashi stated to Naruto and the blond could not detect sarcasm in that statement. Kakashi was trying to be nice to him. Did the copy-nin feel guilty?
"Now that introductions are done, it's time for your test."
"Test?" Sakura mused. "We passed that already."
"Out of the 27 academy graduates only nine graduate. The other eighteen are sent back to the academy. This is the test that will determine whether I train you. Meet me at the training grounds in four hours. Don't eat anything.
Unless of course, you'd like to throw it up."
Naruto stood with his arms crossed before Kakashi, Sakura and Sasuke standing next to him. An odd bunch of misfits they looked; Naruto determined for a test, Sakura jittery and nervous, and Sasuke waiting in patience.
Kakashi stared him back down. "This test will not be easy." He pulled out two bells. "Each teammate must get one of these."
Sakura frowned. "But….there are only two bells."
"Of course." Kakashi beamed. "Two will retrieve a bell, the other will be sent back to the academy."
Sakura gasped and Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Come at us with everything you have. We won't give up."
Sakura looked at him and nodded. Kakashi nodded himself and clasped the two bells onto his side. "You have until noon to complete the test. And that begins….now."
Sakura, being the most logical of the three, sprinted into hiding. She'd begin the test this way and Naruto raised a brow at her squealing; of course she would assume she and Sasuke would pass together.
Kakashi hummed. "You'd be wise to pay attention to your teammate, you two. Covering one's location is a vital aspect in the shinobi world."
Naruto nodded. "Of course it is." He glanced at Sasuke, who only nodded slightly. "Don't get me wrong, Sakura's extremely smart. But you want to know what matters more than hiding?"
"Meh?" The copy nin raised his visible grey brow and stared into Naruto's eyes. "What's that?"
Naruto smirked, a near sneer with his fangs nearly protruding. "Teamwork."
Kakashi watched in surprise as Naruto dispersed into a heap of water, leaving Sasuke alone. The Uchiha performed a few hand seals. "Fire Style: Running Fire!"
Kakashi raised a brow. Did they believe this jutsu would take him down?
"Wind Style: Divine Wind!"
The Hatake jumped out of the way at the last second as the whirling hurricane of fire sped past him. He looked to Naruto standing afar. The blond had ignited Sasuke's fire attack. So they have a fighting style uniquely for themselves, Kakashi thought in interest. But, what of Sakura?
Just as the jounin evaded that attack, the sound of smashing cut him off. He had not noticed Sakura come from the bushes and begin to punch the ground around him.
A full circle she'd encased him within and just as she stomped, that circle and Kakashi had been lifted into the air.
Gravity had disappeared for a short moment as Naruto came into contact with him. How the boy could somehow float, Kakashi had no idea. He was an amazing kid and Kakashi sort of felt bad for not teaching him when the blond was younger.
Arms blocked both punches and kicks as Naruto and Kakashi battled in hand to hand combat. Kakashi even held shock as he smiled a little under his mask. A genuine smiled ever since Pein killed his sensei.
A genuine smile because he hadn't had a taijutsu match like that in a while; not even with Gai. Naruto, like Gai, was efficient and clean, but there was a brutality about the boy. There were animals within him and Kakashi could hear their roars.
It soon came to a point where they were going abnormally fast and high into the air.
"You won't give up, will you?" Kakashi asked in a loud tone. "What's wrong? Don't know your limit?"
Naruto smirked as Kakashi kicked his stomach. "I don't have one."
When both had realized how high they'd gotten, they looked toward the ground in shock. Sakura and Sasuke looked so much like spects from up there.
Kakashi's eyes widened. He didn't know how'd he get from this one and didn't even know why he kept challenging Naruto. There was no getting out now.
Naruto sighed. "Grab onto my shoulder, Kakashi-sensei."
The copy nin looked to the sincere emotion of Naruto's eyes and nodded. He placed a hand on the blond's shoulder.
Naruto nodded and let his staff glow. Pointing it toward the ground, the blond decided that he would let Kakashi see this one power and leave it be. "I'm only going to destroy some of the ground so landing will not kill us."
Kakashi nodded and watched the blond intensely. "All World Destruction"
There was a signifying crash as both landed, softly and hardly in pain. When Kakashi blinked, he awwed at the area. The ground had been upturned and everything was nearly destroyed; to Kakashi, it was a beautiful disaster.
Besides the destruction of the training field, all its occupants were fine. Kakashi attempted to conceal his awestruck when he glanced at Naruto.
The blond sheepishly laughed as if it were no big deal. "I placed a barrier around us."
"Well good job, the bells, which were hidden are now ruined." Kakashi smiled.
Naruto stepped back as Sakura glared a him. "Naruto, you idiot! Why'd you destroy the bells trying to be cool? Now none of us will be on a team. You've ruin everything."
Kakashi saw the hurt in Naruto's eyes, but he also saw the harsh comeback coming forth, growling like a guttural sound in the blond's throat.
"You weren't even going to help if you hadn't saw Sasuke and I executing our Uchikaze fighting sty-"
"Alright, kids. Because Naruto destroyed the bells by saving our lives, I'll give you all a second chance. But, Naruto, you understand that this comes with consequence."
Naruto nodded in determination. "Do your worst."
In seconds, Kakashi had tied the blond to a nearby stomp and handed both Sasuke and Sakura bento boxes. He eye smiled. "Now, I have to go retrieve more bells. You three stay here." He ignored Naruto's sigh. "And as Naruto's consequence, he cannot eat anything. Do not give him anything. I'll be back."
The copy-nin waited for their affirmed nods and ran away into the forest.
Naruto groaned, his stomach grumbling. He was a growing boy and really needed to eat. Gaara's lovely breakfast was draining in his stomach.
Sasuke looked around and walked over to Naruto with a small smile. Sakura raised a brow at the boy's slight blush. He must have felt sorry for Naruto.
"Dobe, why'd you go and get yourself tied up. Now I have to feed you."
The blond blushed as well, his thoughts skewing toward his sins and desires. Sasuke came closer and placed the chopsticks full of rice within Naruto's mouth.
The blond smiled and swallowed. "Thanks, teme."
Sasuke watched Naruto briefly and, almost as if he forgot that Sakura was there, he smiled softly at Naruto.
It wasn't his usual smirk that everyone noticed or even the smile he got when he was around Itachi or Gaara; it was Naruto's smile-the smile built solely for his best friend. Naruto smiled back, wider as his stomach jumped around and his chest grew hot.
Sakura frowned deeply and opened her mouth to speak. However, there was a large puff of smoke as Kakashi appeared.
"I told you not to feed Naruto Namikaze! Are you ready for your punishment?"
The blond, without using hand seals, spoke in a booming voice. "Namikaze Light Release: Flame Aura!"
The rope burned around him and he jumped before Sasuke. "You'll have to get through me to hurt him."
They watched as Kakashi growled and formed within his hands a shocking lightning. The spark had to have come from lightning release, Naruto assumed. A failed Rasengan, he supposed.
He smirked and formed the Rasengan within his hand. "You can hurt me, bruise me, and even kill me, but for the love of Chi, don't touch him."
The jounin's eye narrowed. "That's a dangerous attack, the rasengan. Jiraiya must have really believed in you to have taught you."
"It's not as dangerous as half of my power. And Jiraiya didn't teach me this. Just know that i will fight you if-"
"You pass." Kakashi cut him off. "All three of you."
Naruto chose not to falter as Sakura stood excitedly. "We what?"
"You pass. The test wasn't about the bells. It's about teamwork. When I was growing and on my team with your father, Naruto, I learned a very important lesson from a dear friend. Those who break th-"
Naruto let his Rasengan falter and finished for the silver haired man. "The rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."
Kakashi stared. "So your father told you?"
Naruto shook his head and blushed a bit. He had learned from Pein and that hurt. "I..uh...I learned it when I was five. From my brother."
Sakura coughed. "Which one?" She asked in disinterest.
Naruto froze. Could he actually say Pein's name in a village that deemed him a traitor. He opened his mouth slowly. "Pein."
Even more awkwardness. Finally Sakura opened her mouth. "The traitor."
He killed the family. Betrayed the clan. Left Naruto and Gaara with no parents or guidance. And most of all he left Naruto alone. He left when his little Naruto needed him most and Naruto should have hated him for that.
But even then, Naruto's face grew red, his eyes shining the same tone. All he could see was red. He balled one fist and pushed it out, watching as Kakashi stood before Sakura, resulting in the jounin getting thrown back into her.
Naruto had punched his sensei with a chakra induced fist. He had wanted to hit Sakura...so badly.
Naruto cared no less. "Don't you ever call my brother that again. Or I'll kill you, Sakura."
He lifted his staff and hit the ground angrily. "I know what he is and I know what he did. But he's human. We all are. We do things even Chi can't fathom why. But, that doesn't mean he wasn't my hero.
He held my hand when I was small. Caught me when I fell. And even years later, Everytime I think of him, I fill with pride and love. Because I miss him...with my life. He was my sunshine...he was my laughter. He gave me the truth when others told me what I wanted to hear. My brother was my hero. Whatever he did, I did. And he'll always be my hero, even though he lost his mind."
Naruto's eyes filled with pure hatred as he looked over his new team. Kakashi, the once uninterested and calm, had looked so surprised. Sakura was afraid.
That didn't hurt. What hurt was the look on Sasuke's face. Stricken with fear and not knowing what to do.
The blond knew his own look. Protruding fangs, grown horns, red eyes, a sneering growl, and flame around him.
He was upon two legs and his resemblance was of a man and not a monster.
Sasuke stepped forward. "Dobe-"
The blond turned and ran. Ran away before they saw what he really was.
He was a monster.
He was a human.
And that's it. That was seriously sad, I mean it.