Finding the right Path
Third installation. Time skip at the beginning adn only a small chapter
(First attempt at a fight scene)
There are no pairings for now, that may change however
I do not own Naruto or any other aspects that reference people who could sue me...
Enjoy
Chapter 3
Time skip 4 years – Graduation day
The end of the academy couldn't have come at a better time. Four years of boredom was never good for the twins. The first year was just as Naruto suspected. Many Academy teachers tried to sabotage Menma and each time they tried, they got pranked later. The Hokage found out about the sabotaging and decided to do something about it. Unfortunately he found out close to the end of the year, so he 'thought' that most of the damage had been done.
By the beginning of the second year, both classes had merged, with many students dropping out and transferring to the civilian school or taking up their parents' trade. Iruka was much more lenient with Menma, and with Naruto around Menma didn't play up as much. Problem was that more times than not, the twins where gone and pranking people. No one could find them except the Hokage, he would get in contact with Iruka and assign him the task of returning the twins to class. Many people didn't know this and they all thought that it was Iruka who had a hunch and followed it to catch the young Ninja's in training.
Many of the pranks caused by them were known thanks to Menma's honesty. Looking back now, Iruka should have asked at the beginning of each class if they were going to pull a prank. Problem was he had a hunch that the twins pull pranks on the fly, with little to no preparation. Oh how wrong he was. Each prank was planned and involved precision, skill and timing.
The classroom was abuzz with noise as Iruka walked in. "Quiet please" he spoke, but to no avail. Gaining a tick mark he screamed at the top of his lungs "Quiet" at the outburst, all of the students got serious.
"Now that is more like it. Welcome to the Academy exams, the next step on your journey onto becoming a Shinobi of Konoha." Iruka stated with as much pride as he could muster. At his words most of the kids cheered. He needed to give them some hope, some sense of hope before they realise what it truly requires in being a Shinobi. "The test is in three parts, first the written, and then the Taijutsu portion. Lastly will be the Ninjutsu. There are only three jutsu needed to pass." As Iruka stated this, his assistant, Mizuki walked around and handed out all the tests.
Mizuki had been a part of the old class and was discreetly against Menma and Naruto. No-one knew that it was Mizuki that pulled the strings behind the splitting up of the twins in the first year. He was also one of the main instigators behind the sabotage of Menma's time in the Academy. Although that was the case, Menma didn't need special assistance and always had Naruto to fall back onto.
"Mizuki-Sensei is handing out the test and when I say begin, you can start" Iruka spoke again. And just like that the exams began. At the end of the written exam, Iruka stayed behind to mark the written portion of the exam while Mizuki took the young Shinobi in training out to the field to complete the Taijutsu portion.
"The next bouts will be simple. Taijutsu only is to be used and I will be your opponent. Last for longer than thirty seconds and you will pass. If you are able to, try and get me out of the rink as well, this will ensure that you pass with flying colours" As Mizuki said that, he called each Shinobi in training to come forward.
Naruto noticed that Mizuki was not going full out with all of his opponents, and although that was the case, many struggled to last longer than the thirty seconds; but those that did gave up shortly after reaching the mark. This of course was still a pass, so it really didn't matter. The clan heirs were the only exceptions to the rules. All passed with flying colours.
"Next up is Menma." As Mizuki got ready to go to work, Naruto noticed the air around Mizuki shift. He felt the slight rise of Killer Intent from the Chuunin and he knew that Menma felt it too. The twins looked at each other briefly, before Menma walked into the ring. From the start of the bell Mizuki was hitting harder and moving faster than he normally did with the other students. This didn't faze Menma though, as he was easily keeping up.
Mizuki threw a left punch which Menma dodged, only for Mizuki to follow up with a right leg sweep which Menma jumped over. Mizuki had him in the air and was about to punch before he felt his chin get hit hard by a foot, which was connected to Menma's leg. Mizuki at that moment was flung outside the ring and Menma completed his backflip to land on the ground. This stopped the fight due to Mizuki being pushed out.
The class was stunned, it all happened too fast and they barely saw what happened. Mizuki tested his jaw to see that it was still in good condition. He knew that he lost, but couldn't believe it, this student had to be no more than 13 and yet he was already a high Chuunin level fighter. No-one commented on what happened because they couldn't believe it. Here was this clown in the classroom, hitting a Chuunin with a move that they didn't see coming. It was enough to get the students to think twice before picking a fight. Two out of the whole class however felt the need to challenge the young Uzumaki, but knowing now was not the time.
"Naruto, you're up next." Mizuki stated with barely hidden contempt. He was not supposed to let Menma pass, but pass he did. As Naruto stood in front of Mizuki, the air around him began to change. Mizuki looked at Naruto and tried very hard to repress a shiver. He saw in the boys' eyes the intent to harm. Mizuki was told that Naruto was quiet but also skilled, but looking at this student now, he felt the need to walk away and forget his mission. Naruto, in the eyes of Mizuki at that moment, looked like a true Shinobi, not some Academy student.
As the bell rang Mizuki charged in for a left hit, only to hit nothing but air. As he looked down to where he knew Naruto had gone, he was hit very hard in the jaw by Naruto's foot. The exact same spot got hit, only this time harder. Menma was easy to forgive people, if they had a reason for it; Naruto on the other hand was akin to an executioner. Mess with either twin, and Naruto would come for revenge. Menma would pull pranks alongside Naruto, but Naruto showed no mercy if he felt the line was crossed.
As Mizuki was flying in the air, he tried to flip and land on his feet. He did so only to feel a punch coming towards his face, he blocked the punch, and dodged to the side were he retaliated with a punch of his own. This left him wide open for a leg to hit him in the ribs, quietly knocking the air from his lungs. Mizuki moved back once more to get some space only to find a fist coming for his face. Ducking under, Mizuki grabbed Naruto and tossed him in the air. As Naruto was tossed, his right foot came up and barely missed the Chuunin's jaw once more. 'How skilled are these two?' Mizuki thought.
Naruto landed in the middle of the rink and waited patiently. The time was running out slowly and Mizuki felt the need to hit Naruto. He ran in again and tried punch, punch sweep combo only to hit nothing but air. Naruto was too fast for Mizuki, and they both knew it. Mizuki hopped back once more just in time as Naruto was pulling the same trick as Menma had, this time just missing the Chunnins jaw. Mizuki was about to charge again when the bell rang and it caught Mizuki off guard.
Mizuki had almost failed his mission and had only one chance to complete it. "Next is Ino." The young Yamanaka Heiress couldn't get over how the fight developed. Both fights actually. Who would have thought that the twins could stand toe to toe with a Chuunin? As the fight between Mizuki and Ino came to an end, Iruka walked out and asked for everyone to go into the room for the final test.
"Okay, now the final part is going to begin. When I call your name, please enter the room next door and complete the required jutsu."
Each student had passed the final portion of the exam with flying colours. Even the Sandaime was chuckling in the corner as each student completed their jutsu. He congratulated each and every one of them. There were only three people left to pass.
"Menma you're up" Iruka called, only to get no reply. Mizuki got a curious look on his face and decided to see why Menma didn't come running. "Menma, you don't want to fail do you?" Mizuki asked only to get blank stares from everyone, as they couldn't find Menma, or Naruto in the room.
Mizuki walked into the classroom and approached Iruka to state that Menma and Naruto weren't there. "Does this mean that they both fail?" Iruka asked looking at the Sandaime, only for him to erupt into smoke and Menma to be on the ground laughing his head off. Iruka got a tick mark on his head, but smirked none the less. "You pass the transformation, but can you pass the Kawarimi?" as Iruka said that, he was looking into the splitting image of Naruto.
The difference between Naruto and Menma were there clothing. Menma enjoyed dark Maroon and most of his body suit composed of the colour. Naruto on the other hand preferred to were black as his colour of choice with a hint of orange. So when Iruka saw Naruto there, he got another tick mark. "Menma, I said Kawarimi not transform into your brother." As Iruka said this, a voice behind asked "But I did Iruka-Sensei." Both Mizuki and Iruka spun in shock to reveal not one but five Menma's. When they turned around again, they were looking at the Sandaime Hokage, the Yondaime Hokage, the Nidaime Hokage and the Shodaime Hokage.
Iruka, having enough of the prank gave both the twins their headbands and told them to wait in the classroom. Mizuki on the other hand was too stunned to believe what had actually transpired. The twins pulled one last prank which actually got them to pass the jutsu portion of the exam. Frustrated and angry, Mizuki left the office to report the failure of his mission.
