Start Chapter 7
After that close call with Naruto and Sasuke I don't know what I'm going to do. That cannot happen again, but I know for a fact they're going to be on a team together at the end of this year. Hopefully I can figure out a way to keep the tensions down for now and maybe their instructor can do the rest. Well time to grade some papers because Sasuke's a little brat…
Several Weeks Later at Naruto's House
The blonde boy sits writing up the last of his homework when a knock at his door pulls him from it. Not expecting any visitors Naruto grabs a kunai and puts it in his sleeve as he looks out the kitchen window. He sees Iruka standing there and cautiously opens the door, "Iruka what are you doing here?"
Smiling at the boy Iruka says, "I just wanted to check up on you." Naruto nods letting the man into his apartment, "How's everything been going with Ebisu?" The boy shrugs his shoulders indifferently, "I know you were used to me, but obviously we can't always get what we want." Looking over at the blonde's desk he sees school books, "I see you're keeping up on your bookwork."
Naruto nods, "Yeah, I may as well try to bring up my grades as much as possible before the end of the year." Pausing for a second, "Do you want anything to eat?" The Jounin shakes his head, "Alright, well let's take a seat at least." Naruto grabs his cup of coffee he had on the desk and sips on it, "So, how is being an academy teacher treating you?"
Iruka shrugs his shoulders, "Not too bad, it's a lot more paperwork than I'm used to, it's definitely manageable." Looking out the window the Jounin sees the full moon hanging in the sky, "You and Sasuke doing alright outside of the academy?"
The blonde shakes his head, "Not really he always tries to follow me when I try to go that secret spot you showed me. I think he wants to prove himself or something by beating me." Sighing in annoyance at the thought of the Uchiha, "I want to talk to him about it, but every time I try to go up to him at the academy he just walks away." The boy rubs his temples, "I don't want to be friends with him, but I don't want a repeat of taijutsu practice." Iruka nods in understanding, "Maybe I should just let him be for now?"
Taking a moment to think the brown-haired Jounin puts his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Don't worry about it, I'm sure with some more time he'll open up to suggestion."
Naruto laughs dryly, "I have a feeling he isn't one to let go after getting embarrassed like that." Iruka sighs at the blonde, "We'll just have to give him some more time. If he attacks me again like that I know something will need to be done."
The Jounin nods before getting up to leave, "Alright, I'm going to let you get back to work. Just keep pushing Naruto and I'm sure everything will turn out for the best." Nodding the boy watches Iruka walk out the door and gets up to get back to work on his school studies.
The Next Day in Class
Naruto answers the last question on the quiz before handing it into Iruka and leaving to go to lunch. Once outside he takes his usual place at the swing before getting his lunch out. Halfway through his meal he sees a spiky shadow on the ground, "Sasuke I'm not going to fight you." Looking up at the Uchiha, "If all you want is revenge then you're wasting your time on me because I won't give you the satisfaction."
The raven-haired boy grunts before saying, "You're just a coward." Naruto takes another bite from his sandwich and ignores the boy, "You won't fight me because you're scared of me."
Continuing consuming his meal the blonde smiles, "No I just want to be able to graduate, and get on with my life. Fighting you would only prevent that from happening and honestly you're not worth it." Finishing up his sandwich the boy pulls out his banana and starts peeling it before taking a bite, "You want something to eat? If you're going to stand there you may as well not go hungry." Sasuke is surprised by the blonde's kind gesture before turning away and leaving the area, "Jeez, I was just trying to be nice." He shakes his head before another spiky shadow comes into his view this one is slightly different and he looks up to see, "Sakura, you here to antagonize me about Sasuke? Or do you want this apple I packed?" Extending hand with the piece of fruit the pink-haired girl smacks it out of his hand, "Well that wasn't very nice, and wasteful at that. That apple was perfectly good." He gets up to collect the piece of fruit on the ground before washing it off with a simple water jutsu. The red apple shines like new, "At least I can have it later now." Sealing it away in his sealing scroll Naruto gets up, "Is there something I can help you with? Or do you just intend on standing there for the rest of lunch?" The pink-haired girl growls and her fellow fan-girls join her; "If you all want me to fight Sasuke, and then get a date from him. However, you can't tell him that it's so I'll fight him, if you do I'll know and the bet is off." Brushing off the seat of his pants Naruto heads in as the lunch bell rings, "Well I took care of that pretty easily." As he walks down the hallway he senses a presence, "Did you really accept their request just to fight me?"
Naruto turns around to face the Uchiha, "No, I did it so I can destroy you." The blonde breaks out into hysterical laughter pointing at Sasuke, "What's so funny?"
Gathering his wits the boy says, "You really are pathetic." Naruto looks down as he says this, "You can go fuck yourself for all I care, maybe cut your wrists while you whine about Itachi killing your family." Pulling out a kunai Naruto runs the knife up through the air and then across, "Remember up the road for results, across the road for attention." He tosses the Uchiha the knife and Sasuke sends it right back at him. Naruto catches the projectile by the handle just short of his face, "Sasuke in all honesty, I don't want to fight you, just move on and we can at least coexist." The raven-haired boy growls before going to make hand seals. This time Naruto doesn't hesitate and draws a kunai to stab Sasuke's hands to each wall cause the boy to scream in pain, "Sasuke, you fucking idiot! Not only could you kill me, you can burn down this place and kill everyone else trapped inside." The Uchiha growls "Stop! That's enough!" Blood flows out of the boy's hands as he struggles. Naruto grabs the boy's wrist before dislodging the knife and making one-handed seal for a basic medical ninjutsu. The blonde's hands glow green and he heals the Uchiha's one hand, "Now let me fix the other, and don't try anything before I do the same thing." Repeating the process Naruto heals the boy's hands, "Leave before everyone get here." Voices come from down the hall and Sasuke just stands there in shock, "GO!" Shaking off the surprise Sasuke runs out of the academy and Naruto waits for the ninja to get there. Once they've arrived Naruto explains the situation leaving out the part about Sasuke attacking him.
Sasuke is hiding behind a pole nearby listening the entire transaction wondering what the hell Naruto is thinking, "He's going to get in so much trouble."
Iruka's voice cuts from behind him, "Not as much as you're about to." The Jounin grabs the Uchiha before taking him to the only place he can.
In the Hokage's Office
Naruto sits outside the village military leader's office twiddling his thumbs nervously, "I hope they don't get Sasuke in too much trouble." The blonde sighs and leans back against the wall before the door opens and Iruka pops out. Motioning for Naruto to come in the boy follows the brown-haired man inside. Once in there he takes a seat facing the Third Hokage who looks neutral at this point.
Sarutobi takes a drag from his pipe and breathes out the smoke heavily, "You're not in any trouble by me Naruto or officially." The elderly leader looks deep into the boy's azure eyes, "You have nothing to be nervous about Iruka saw the whole thing, but I would like to know why you lied." Pausing to lean back in the large chair the man waits for an answer, "Most people would have immediately blamed Sasuke for everything, but you were willing to take the fall for someone who tried to kill you."
The blonde boy looks into the older man's eyes, "I don't want to screw over a comrade even if they try to kill me. He's just lost right now and needs someone to show him kindness that isn't out of some ulterior motive." Looking out the window at the Hokage Mountain, "Besides a Hokage has to know when to lie; sometimes it's better for the village. If everyone sees their hero as a villain then hope is lost." Stopping for a second to think, "People see Sasuke as a hero because he survived the Uchiha Massacre; the last thing they need to know is that he's as bad as his brother."
The Third is shocked by the maturity and wisdom behind those words and can't think of something to say for several minutes. After a while he says, "Naruto, you've just shown wisdom beyond your years with that statement. Even though it isn't fair to you, you were willing to put the good of the village ahead of yourself. That is a quality that every Hokage must possess and some day you will make a fine one." Smiling lightly at the boy, "However, you must also know when punishment for certain actions is necessary and despite Sasuke's status he will be punished. He will not be allowed to become a ninja for this village under my rule until he has truly learned his lesson."
Naruto looks shocked at this level of seriousness and shakes his head, "No, let me do it and make sure he knows I did that for him. He won't learn his lesson, he'll only grow more resentful of the village and his connection with it will fade." Thinking quickly of a solution the blonde says, "Just let me take the exam and graduate early. Put me on a special team where I can run missions with a superior until I'm ready to do them on my own."
The Hokage takes one final drag from his pipe before putting it out, "Although you make a good point I won't allow Sasuke actions to go without consequence. Besides, part of being a leaf ninja is learning to work with others for a greater cause. You can't just be a lone wolf here."
Sighing Naruto says, "At least let me take the exam early, I don't think any of my classmates like me anyway and the last thing we need is friction on teams." Bowing his head and clapping his hands pleading for that, "Please, just do it and if I can't make it this way I won't bring it up again."
Bowing his head in thought Sarutobi says, "Fine, you can take the exam, but you will be put on a team with an instructor of my choosing. Sasuke will still be punished though, but a little bit differently than originally." Writing something down on a piece of paper the leader hands it to Iruka, "You will take your exam tomorrow and if you pass you will be put on an apprenticeship with Iruka."
"Thank you, I won't let you down." Naruto says looking up with bright azure eyes.
"Alright, just get some rest you have a big day tomorrow." Sarutobi says dismissing the boy. Naruto gets up and leaves the two alone to head home.
Iruka looks at the Hokage, "So what are you going to do with Sasuke?"
Sarutobi smiles deviously, "He's going to be running D-rank missions for free until he learns his lesson. All of the worst ones too." The two share a laugh before the Jounin leaves in a puff of smoke. Looking out the window at the Fourth Hokage's stone visage he says, "Minato, you're boy is going to make you proud."
At Naruto's Apartment that Night
Naruto goes over his supplies one last time before turning out the light in his apartment living room, "I guess I'll find out tomorrow whether or not I'm ready for this challenge." Heading into his bedroom the blonde sets his alarm for the next day. He gets undressed and looks in the mirror, "Maybe I should stop being so selfless all the time, one of these days it's going to get me killed." Shaking his head Naruto climbs into bed before turning out the light in his room.
The Next Day after Naruto Finished the Exam
Iruka totals up the score of Naruto's results and sighs, "You passed with a perfect score Naruto, looks like you're a Genin now." Handing the boy a black headband Naruto takes it and ties it on his head, "Prove to me and the Hokage that we were right allowing you to do this."
The blonde nods in pride, "I won't let you down and that's a promise." His azure eyes burn with conviction, "Now it begins." Naruto looks out the window, "It's the start of a new journey, a different journey." Smiling and turning around Naruto leaves the classroom and Iruka to his thoughts…
End Chapter 7 and the Academy: Making the Grade Arc