Disclaimer no Jutsu: That which has already been said, need not be said again.
The Golden Jinchurriki
Chapter 2: Betrayal and Discovery
"Alright, class. Let's begin the Genin test's. We'll start with last names, first letter being called first. We'll start with...Akimichi Chouji! Please bring Dega and come into the next room," Iruka-sensei said, starting the test for the right to be called a Genin. The boy in question smiled, hopping up from his chair and snatching his small, red daemon up.
"Alright! Let's go, Dega! We'll kick butt...and then go get something to eat!" His daemon didn't even bother replying, instead flopping a large ear over its head and pretending to sleep. As Nara Shikamaru watched the two leave to go into the other room, he sighed.
"Sometimes, I wish that Dega was my daemon."
"Shikamaru! Don't say such a thing!" Zanki scolded, glaring up at his child from the desk where he stood. Shikamaru lazily sighed, blinking at him as the stick insect chided him further. "I'm your daemon! Besides, that mutt doesn't do anything but eat and sleep! What could you possibly see in it?"
Shikamaru smiled slyly. Reaching out a hand slowly, he grasped the insect by the back, lifting it up and ignoring its protests. "Yeah...he's quiet, too. You forgot quiet." Placing the daemon on his shoulder, he laid his head back down, snoring slightly in an attempt to fool his daemon into thinking he was asleep.
Giving up, Zanki merely turned its attention to another target. "Oy! Naruto-kun! Kyuubi-kun!"
Upon hearing his and his daemon's names, Naruto glanced up from where he was drawing on his desk. Blinking slightly at the interruption, he smiled. "Oy, Zanki-san! How are you?"
"I'd be better if this lazy boy of mine would take this test seriously!" The insect punctuated its words with a tap on the top of Shikamaru's head. Goaded into action, said boy rose up slightly, sighing once more.
"Man, this is so troublesome. Why can't they just let all of us go at once? That would be way quicker than this."
Not one to disagree, Naruto quickly nodded, even though the pit of his stomach felt as if someone had just stabbed a kunai through it. "Oh...hai! Yeah, yeah! We should all go at once! That would be quick!" Turning back to his drawing, the boy began again on the outline and sketching. Of course, never one for artistry, he continually screwed up the lines and faces of the clones he was hatching.
Naruto-kun, if you continue to worry, you'll blow this portion of the exam. Please, stop fidgeting. Kyuubi glanced up from the floor, its nine-tails wafting slightly. Naruto took a moment to glance down, smiling and giving the daemon a pet on the head.
Perhaps, Kyub. But...I'm really nervous. I really want to become a Genin.
As do I, Naruto-kun. But...being nervous won't help! Relax...we'll do fine. We practiced for hours last night.
It was easy to say that they had practiced for hours. In fact, they had started practicing from the time that class had gotten out to about an hour before this class had started. They had gone over the technique hundreds of times, doing the jutsu as many times as their chakra would allow. However, they never seemed to get it quite right. Something must have mixed wrong between their two chakra's. It wasn't either of their faults. Just...bad timing perhaps. Maybe not even bad timing. Maybe it was the fact that Naruto was too busy thinking about what a great ninja he would make to actually finish the jutsu correctly.
You see? That's your problem right there! You think you'll be a great ninja, when you haven't even become one yet! Words as harsh as this...coming from one's own daemon. It...was disheartening.
Another sigh slipped from between the boy's lips, and he agitatedly pushed harder on the pencil, working in another facial expression. Snap! Naruto glared at the half-pencil in his hand as the other rolled slightly, falling off his desk and bouncing on the ground. As it rolled to a stop, he grit his teeth, figuring that the best course of action would be to stop worrying. Of course, when one tries to stop worrying, it usually leads to more.
Arg! This is driving me insane, Kyub! I just want to get it over with! The multi-tailed daemon eyed him momentarily before sighing itself. Using the chair next to Naruto's as a springboard, Kyuubi quickly assailed the desktop. Gaining the small aperture, he sat, licking a paw as he continued communication.
Naruto-kun. Be patient...for both of our sakes. Remember, we are a team, and we are linked. Your frustration is beginning to get to me, too.
Naruto had never really thought about his feelings in the way that Kyuubi would feel them. He had always thought that his own frustration, anger, and guilt stayed with him. It was horrible to think that Kyuubi would feel the after-affects of those as well. Apologetically, Naruto absentmindedly stroked the daemon's fur, feeling it thrum in pleasure underneath his hand. Sorry, Kyuubi. I'll...try to watch the way I feel from now on. I don't want you feeling down simply because I do.
It is alright, Naruto-kun. Try to make small talk with someone. That may help to alleviate these fears of yours. However small the comment was, Naruto decided to take it to heart. Turning in his chair, he smiled at the first person he could.
"Oy! Sasuke!" Inside his brain...Kyuubi faltered. Of all the people in the room, the Uchiha was the one he decided to talk to.
An annoyed look spread over the boy's face as he turned from his window, eying the blond contemptuously. "Hn...what do you want?"
"Oh...nothing," Naruto replied. He was trying to be as cheerful as possible, hoping that the happy tone of his voice would hide the waver in his speech. "I...I was just wondering what...what was going on?"
The raven-haired boy grunted again, eying the nine-tailed daemon in front of Naruto with as much distaste as he could possibly muster. His daemon, Chouzu, eyed him with the same contempt. Turning his head away to look back out the window, the boy muttered darkly out of the side of his mouth, "don't talk to me...loser..."
At first, the comment merely startled Naruto into a lack of speech. Kyuubi, however, began to growl slightly. "Look, Uchiha. I don't care about you or your black furred menace! But, you won't speak to my boy like that again, understand?" The hackle's on the daemon's fur began to rise, an ominous feeling surrounding the atmosphere as Kyuubi took a step closer. "Did you hear me...Uchiha?"
An eyebrow rising, Sasuke turned back to the boy and daemon, eying the nine-tailed animal with more than a little disinterest. "Really? And what if I do...freak? I think I'll do it again...it gives me too much pleasure. He...is...a...loser..." By now, his own daemon was beginning to get riled up. Wicked, curved claws extended out, and a low pitched scraping noise left the desk as the animal left indentations in the wood, a sharp hiss issuing from its throat.
By now, Naruto had gotten his nerve back, standing out of his chair and glaring across at the other. "Hey! Don't say shit like that to Kyuubi, you bastard!" His hands shaking, he took a stride forward, by-passing the chair nearest him and standing with arms akimbo, facing down the Uchiha, who was still merely watching him from his seat.
"Hey moron, I wouldn't get into a fight just yet. After all...you wouldn't want everyone here to watch me stomp you into the ground, would you?" the Uchiha responded back. His own daemon took a step closer, the hiss turning more violent.
His hand shaking as it formed a fist, Naruto glared at the offensive boy, as if daring him to speak again. There they were, locked in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Both daemons looked ready to pounce, seeking an opening where claw and tooth would come into play.
"Ahem! Excuse me?" A voice that wasn't Sasuke's cut through the silence, interrupting the showdown. Blinking to come back to reality, Naruto glanced up at the tiger daemon that stood on the desk, glaring at him. "If you have a problem here, Uzumaki-san, I will be more than happy to deal with it."
Backing off from the daemon slightly, the blond boy's hands rose up in a sign of defeat. "N-n-no, Gar-sensei. I...I was just...just..."
"Just getting on my nerves," Sasuke finished for him, taking a moment to pet his daemon off-handedly. The black cat hissed, hunching down again.
"Hn. Well, that shouldn't be a problem anymore. Uzumaki-san, you're next. Let's go," Gar replied dryly, turning and hopping lithely off the table-top. As the tiger daemon stalked away into the exam room, Naruto allowed himself a sigh of relief. Mizuki-sensei's daemon was really scary, especially when he glared at you with those large, emerald eyes.
We don't want to make the examiner's mad at us, Naruto-kun. Come, let's leave this for another day. We have to pass the test now! A hurried reminder from his daemon thrust the boy back into the present. Smiling, he punched the air.
"Yeah! Let's do it, Kyub."
"Good luck...idiot..." Sasuke said, the sarcasm just dripping from his words. Turning his back to the boy with a huff, Naruto marched away, followed closely by Kyuubi, who kept a guarded eye on the pair behind them. As they left the room, Hinata and Mophy walked to the door, eying them.
"Good luck...Naruto-kun..."
Hinata-chan, we've already passed. Come on! Let's go home, I'm starving!
just wanted...to say good luck...to...Naruto-kun...and Kyuubi-kun...
You should've spoken louder, then. I don't think they heard you at all, talking in that little peep you call a voice, her daemon admonished. The girl sighed at her counterpart's harsh words, feeling each of them as a lash to her skin.
...Hai...
In the exam room, Naruto busied himself by looking nonchalant...while inside, he felt like he wanted to throw up. Blinking uninterestedly at the exam table, Kyuubi merely rocked back and forth on his hind legs, taking a moment to glance up at his boy.
Oy, Naruto-kun. Pay attention. This is it.
Ya-ya! I know.
"Naruto-kun...Kyuubi-kun...are you ready for the test?" Iruka asked, gazing at them from the table. Keeshi gave each of them a curt nod from the shoulder where he was now perched, looking over the rest of the candidates listed on the exam paper.
Haltingly, Naruto nodded. "H-h-hai! I'm ready!"
On the floor, Kyuubi also nodded. "Hai, Iruka-sensei, Keeshi-sensei. We are prepared."
Smiling at the two, Iruka stood, nodding at both of them as his spider daemon took a position on the ceiling. "Very well, you two. Gather your chakra...and perform a Bunshin no Jutsu for us." Next to him, Mizuki-sensei sat, eying both candidates with a feral grin on his face. His daemon, Gar, sat by his side, his head above the desktop, his tail swishing silently behind him.
Placing his hands together, Naruto allowed his eyes to close, concentrating his energy. A moment later, he felt a weight on his head, knowing the Kyuubi had taken a position on top of his skull. It was easier to lock onto the others chakra signature this way.
"Alright...ready Kyuubi?"
Of course, Naruto-kun. Let's do this properly the first time. Smiling, Naruto completed the two hand-signs that would finish the jutsu.
"Ninpou: Bunshin no Jutsu!" The expended chakra from the technique came out in a cloud of smoke and steam, interrupting the visibility in the room momentarily. Feeling his chakra reserve dwindle slightly, Naruto suddenly felt an immense sense of accomplishment. Thus far, the pair hadn't been able to perform the Bunshin no Jutsu correctly. Now...they finally had done it! It was over! They were going to be Genin!
As the cloud dissipated, Naruto felt Kyuubi give a sharp intake of breath. Figuring that it was because they had finally figured out the technique, Naruto opened his eyes, taking a moment to glance about. "H-h-hey? Where's my clone?"
A sharp clearing of the throat caught the boy's attention, as Iruka-sensei sighed, tilting his head down...and pointing a finger up. Blinking, Naruto craned his neck back, glancing at the ceiling, before a look of disbelief hit his features. He had made a clone alright...but it was plastered to the top of the room. Of course, that wasn't its only problem. It somehow had gotten the body of Naruto...and the head...of Kyuubi's backside. Nine-tails of red and gold fur were plastered to the ceiling, jutting out of what could presumably be called a neck.
Gulping slightly, Naruto chuckled nervously, looking down at where Iruka-sensei was ticking something off on his pad of paper. "Er...I meant to do that, you know?"
"Naruto-kun, Naruto-kun, Naruto-kun...that simply won't do. I'm sorry...but you fail." The words coming from the man's mouth felt like slaps against Naruto's face. Above him, he could tell that Kyuubi was also feeling the disappointment of the lost jutsu.
"Iruka-sensei." Next to him, Mizuki-sensei stood, smiling. "He...did make a clone...sort of. That was the lesson of the day, to make a clone. You know...we could let him pass this once." Inside of his heart, Naruto felt a twinge of hope.
"Ya-ya! You could! Listen to Mizuki-sensei!" However, Iruka wasn't about to be dissuaded.
"I'm sorry, Naruto-kun. The other children made at least two clones. You...failed to make even one that functioned correctly. You've failed this portion of the exam. You'll just have to try next year."
"Are you sure, Iruka-sensei? The boy did try, and while the technique was flawed, I did sense a heightened appeal with his daemon. They were in sync with one another when they performed the jutsu. True, being in-sync doesn't necessarily allow one to perform a jutsu correctly, but it does help. Are you sure we cannot be lenient?" Mizuki asked once more, his daemon walking in front of him and sitting down to lick a paw.
"I'm sorry, Mizuki-sensei. We cannot allow him to become a Genin. A Genin must have both basic shinobi instincts and be able to perform jutsu's. He apparently cannot do this at all. It wouldn't be right to pass him when the other students were able to do pass easily, without any leeway. Better luck next time, Naruto-kun. Mizuki-sensei, please call in the Uchiha." Sadly, Mizuki nodded, turning to Naruto and smiling.
"I am sorry, Naruto-kun. I tried."
Sniffing back a tear, Naruto nodded. "Hai, Mizuki-sensei. Thank you." Turning from the room, he left, Kyuubi not speaking a word through the whole ordeal.
Outside, it was pandemonium. People ran back and forth, children who had passed the Genin test being congratulated by their parents.
"Did you see my headband, poppa? I did it!"
"Yes, you did! Wonderful job!"
"Great work, Chichi!"
"You are my child! It was you who did the work, I just helped!"
"Nonsense! No one could ask for a better daemon!"
Listening to the happy tones of voices, Naruto himself sat in the bough of a tree, staring up through the leaves blowing slightly in the mid-day wind. It's not fair. It's not fair at all!
Naruto-kun...
No, Kyuubi! It's not fair! Iruka-sensei is too harsh! We should've passed!
But...we didn't do the jutsu correctly!
Maybe, but we did the jutsu anyways! We made a clone!
That clone...was pathetic, Naruto-kun.
I don't care! Mizuki-sensei should have been the teacher. He should have been the one! We would've passed if he had been the only teacher in that room.
Perhaps. But...if Iruka-sensei and Keeshi-sensei think that we need more training, than I trust them. Perhaps we do need more...
No! We don't! We only need to be Genin right now! That's the only thing we need!
Naruto-kun...
"Oy, Naruto-kun!" Blinking as the voice penetrated his dark thoughts, Naruto glanced down. Mizuki-sensei smiled up at him from the ground, his tiger daemon staring up through the branches at the pair.
"Hai?"
"Can I...talk to you for a moment? Somewhere private?"
"Oh...hai..."
As Naruto hopped from the tree, Kyuubi still on his head, two of the exam students watched him leave. "Oy. See that kid. He's the only one who didn't pass."
"I know. What a loser."
"Heh...yeah. Hey, isn't that the kid who is supposed to be..."
"Shh...we can't talk about that. It's not allowed. We'll...get into trouble."
The lake glistened with a beauty that Naruto hadn't seen until that point. The waters, cold and still, were afire from the sunlight glinting down from the heavens. Picking up a stone, the boy threw it as hard as he possibly could, watching it skim the lapping waves before finally submerging and leaving his sight. "It's not fair, Mizuki-sensei. Why does Iruka-sensei hate me so much?"
Mizuki smiled, taking a seat underneath a tree. "Naruto-kun...he doesn't hate you. He...simply...doesn't understand you, is all."
"But why me? What did I ever do?" Naruto replied, taking another rock and skimming it out. Nearby, Kyuubi and Gar had taken a sleeping position in a sunny spot, allowing the rays to warm their hides. Standing, Mizuki walked over, kneeling down to Naruto's level.
"Naruto-kun, Iruka does care for you, but...he doesn't want to see you get hurt. If you were to go on a mission without being able to perform any techniques, than you could get really injured. He doesn't want that. He wants you to be as prepared as possible." Still smiling, the man gave the boy a nod, standing again. "He's actually quite fond of you, to tell the truth."
"Than why does he act like I'm the bad guy? He's always telling me no. I mean, sure, he buys me ramen every once in a while...but he doesn't give me any slack at school."
"He does that because he cares for you, Naruto-kun." Stooping, the man took up a rock, letting fly out onto the tranquil waters. "If he gave you slack, you wouldn't turn out strong. I know it seems like he picks on you sometimes, but it is in your best interest. Believe me."
"Hn. If you say so. It doesn't matter. I already failed. I can't do any more than that," the blond boy replied, allowing another rock to zip out of his hands. He heard the other sigh and glanced up. Suddenly, Mizuki smiled, tapping a finger on his chin.
"You know, Naruto-kun. There...well..."
"What? What is it?" Naruto asked, intrigued.
"Well...there may be a way for you to learn the technique. It's...it's hard, but..."
"I'll do anything, Mizuki-sensei! Anything!" Naruto said, smiling back. His heart was pounding. If Mizuki-sensei had a way for him to pass the test...he had to go for it!
"Well...it'll be dangerous. But...I have a feeling you'll be able to do it." Kneeling back down, Mizuki discussed his plan with the boy...who had high hopes that carrying through with said plan would end him with a headband of his own.
In his private office, all that the Third Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves wanted was to patiently finish his painting and go to sleep...after smoking a while on his pipe. Making another swish of his paintbrush, he casually took the wooden instrument from his mouth, letting out a puff of smoke before replacing it. It was good to be the Hokage...even if he had to deal with problems every once in a while.
"Sir!" Even as the Jounin ran in, Sarutobi sighed, understanding already on his face.
"Yes? What has the boy done now?" He didn't really even need to ask which boy. If someone was bothering him this late at night...it could only be Naruto making the mess.
"Hokage-sama! Naruto! He's...he's..."
"Yes? Spit it out. What has he done this time?"
"He's taken it, sir! He's taken it!" Suddenly...the small, abysmal thing didn't seem so small. Sadly, Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, allowed his head to fall.
"Hn...Naruto...why do you make everything so difficult?"
It was only a few minutes later when the village Jounin and Chunin were assembled. Standing tall on a podium so they could all see and hear, the Sandaime Hokage began to speak. "I want the boy found, but not harmed! See to it that the artifact is recovered and returned here! Do not attempt to kill the boy. He's foolish, but he means well."
"But Hokage-sama!" One Jounin stood out front, saluting him and bowing. "Naruto-kun has taken...it! This has to be the last straw! We can't allow this behavior to go unpunished!"
The old man sighed once more. Naruto...Naruto...what have you done? "Very well. Try not to hurt him, but apprehend him and bring him back here. He must not be allowed to leave the village. If another village were to find that artifact...I have no doubt that they would use it against us. Now...go!" The assembled nin nodded, bowing.
"Hai!" Then, the clearing once again was empty, the shinobi off to find the missing boy and recover their artifact. In his head, Sarutobi again groaned. He had seen to the boy for his entire life. It was under his care that Naruto had flourished. However, this didn't stop the boy from silly pranks like this. Though, as one could tell by the terse atmosphere, it was more than just a silly prank.
Gaining the rooftops, Mizuki smiled slyly. Hn...now, I can kill that stupid brat and take the thing to the highest bidder! I'll live rich...and I can just say that the boy hid it and didn't tell me where it was. I had to kill him...he was going to fight back! Maybe I threw my shuriken too hard...but...it was the point of the thing, right? An evil gleam ran through the man's eyes as he turned his attention below him, where his daemon was running through the streets. Gar, do you have the scent of him, yet? The tiger daemon glanced up, the moonlight glinting off its emerald eyes.
Hai...the boy is ahead in the forest.
Good. Remember, I'll kill the boy. You kill the daemon. Just...try not to kill that little nine-tailed bastard too soon. If he dies, the boy dies...and I want to personally cut his stupid throat. Mizuki jumped another gap as his daemon let out a fierce growl, punctuating long into the night.
At the outskirts of the village, Naruto was still trying to catch his breath. He had taken the instrument from right underneath the noses of a Jounin...who had just happened to be asleep on shift. Oh well...he would return the thing before anyone knew about it. Mizuki-sensei had told him that if he could use it, he could master his techniques...but...how the hell did he use it?
"What the hell did Mizuki-sensei call this thing, Kyuubi? An...an...aliomomometer or something?" Blinking, he glanced down at his daemon, who watched him with scrutinizing eyes.
"An alethiometer is what he called it, I believe, Naruto-kun. He said that it could tell you whatever you needed to know. You...just have to use it."
"Right. Use it...how the hell am I supposed to do that?"
"Hm. Perhaps you should...open it first?" The suggestion sounded reasonable. Sticking his fingers in the opening in the front of the instrument, he began to pry the lid off, grunting with exertion. Suddenly, it sprang apart, and he dropped it with a yelp. Kyuubi barked slightly as it bounced off his head, landing in the grass with a soft thump.
"Kyuubi! Are you alright?"
"Ya-ya...watch it, huh?" Shaking himself down, the daemon turned to the instrument on the ground, sniffing it. "Hm...it doesn't seem to work. How about you try it, Naruto-kun. See if you can make it work somehow."
"Fine." Stooping to pick up the glowing, golden trinket, Naruto glanced warily at it, sitting down in the grass so that Kyuubi could look it over too. It was almost like a watch...only the face where the numbers would go...were actually pictures. "Pictures? What do those mean?"
"I do not know. Perhaps you should...er...ask it a question? It can't hurt." Naruto sighed, nodding.
"Hai. I'll try." Holding the alethiometer out in front of him, he shut his eyes tight, clenching his teeth. "Oh great, mystical...aliometer thingy! Please tell me what I want to know!" Silence. Blinking, the boy brought the thing back to his face, staring at it. "It...didn't do anything."
"That's because you didn't ask it a question, dobe. Ask it something. 'Please tell me what I want to know' doesn't actually constitute a question," Kyuubi retorted, eyebrow raised as he examined the thing further. Rolling his eyes, Naruto sighed.
"Alright. I'll try this again." Lifting the thing up once more, he took a breath. "Tell me...what I need to do...in order to make my jutsu work!"
In the darkness behind his eyelids...he began to sense something. It wasn't words...but they were. Words, popping out of nowhere. What did it mean? "Huh? Nobility? Honor? Tenacity? What the heck? How does that work for me?"
Glancing down from his new position on Naruto's head, Kyuubi tried to answer as well as possible. "I don't know, Naruto-kun. Perhaps it has something to do with these symbols on the alethiometer?"
"Hm. Maybe." Bringing the instrument up close again, Naruto tried to decipher what the thing was. "Ok...each of the symbols looks like something. See here? That's a baby. Oh! And a bull!...I hate bulls. Ok, there's a lightning bolt...and the symbol for Kami." As he deciphered the symbols, Kyuubi himself noticed something else.
"Wait...Naruto-kun, did you say nobility, honor, and tenacity?"
"Yeah. Those were the words I saw behind my eyes. Or...rather heard. Or...I don't know. Something," Naruto replied back. It was strange how the words formed in his mind. He didn't really see them...or hear them...but, he knew that those were the words.
"Well, that's three words. Look, the alethiometer has three hands!" Unaware of that pertinent piece of information, Naruto glanced back at the alethiometer. Indeed, it had three hands.
"Alright, Kyub. But...what does that mean?"
"Well...maybe each of the words...means a different symbol?" The daemon suggested, hopping down to get a better look at the instrument.
"Hey...yeah! Alright, so...if that's true...what does tenacity mean?"
"Hm. I don't know. Let's go over the symbols and the words," the fox suggested once more. Naruto didn't see a problem with that, seeing as how they didn't quite know what they were doing to begin with.
"Alright then, Kyub. Let's do it!"
It was a good hour later that Naruto and his daemon had finally figured a solution out. "Ok! So, we figured out that each of the words means a symbol, and that each of these hands means a word that you point to a symbol, correct?"
"That is right, Naruto-kun."
"Ok! So...what does tenacity mean?"
"Well...being tenacious means you go all out, that you don't give up. Perhaps...sort of like...that ant symbol? They never give up. They give their lives for their nest, and they work themselves to death. That seems pretty tenacious to me." Nodding, Naruto decided that that made sense.
"Alright, Kyub. So...tenacity means ant?" Taking one of the hands in his fingers, he moved the arm to the ant symbol. A small light flickered on a panel below, and Naruto blinked at it. "Huh. Wonder what that means?"
"Maybe we got it right, Naruto-kun. What were the other ones?"
"Let's see...Well, we got tenacity, I think. Now, we have nobility...and honor. What do you think for those, Kyuubi?"
"Hm. Well, honor means that you are honorable, and do the right thing. Kind of like kings...or knights in the feudal ages. So...how about..." the daemon began, than paused. During the brief moment of silence, Naruto had a sudden epiphany.
"Wait! Nobility could mean baby! Because...nobility was passed down from father to son, right? Kind of like the Hokage's. They pass down the Hokage name from father to son...sometimes...or the closest living relative. Right?"
"It seems to make sense. Try it, Naruto-kun." Nodding again, the boy placed the next hand on the sign of baby. "Ok. Now, we have one more. What is...honor?"
"Doing the right thing, right? So...which symbol..." Scanning the alethiometer once more, both sat in silence as they tried to decipher the meaning of the word.
"Naruto! There you are!" A small peep issued from the boy. Glancing up, his eyes went wide as Iruka and Keeshi stood there, a irritated smile on the man's face. "You're in so much trouble, Naruto. You have no idea what you've done."
"But...Iruka-sensei..."
"Keep it! I've had it up to here with you constantly causing trouble! Now...where's the artifact you stole?"
Caught red-handed, the boy blinked back a tear, holding out the golden alethiometer. "I'm...I'm sorry, Iruka-sensei. But...but...I was gonna return it!"
"You don't get it, Naruto-kun! This is an important artifact that Konohagakure has kept hidden for centuries. Then, someone who isn't even a Genin goes and steals it." Taking the instrument from the boy, Iruka took a look at it, smiling. "Good...it's not damaged. Why would you do something like this, Naruto?"
Ashamedly, Naruto turned his attention to the ground, a tear dripping off his nose. "Because...because...Mizuki-sensei said...if...if I took it...and...used it...I...I could pass...the...the test!"
Iruka's eyes went wide for a moment. Keeshi...did...did he just say Mizuki-sensei?
Yes, he did.
But...what would Mizuki...The sudden whistling through the air caught the man by surprise. On instinct, he flung himself forward. "Naruto! Down!"
Gasping, the blond did as bidden, hitting the dirt and covering his head. Three sounds like a hammer hitting wood punctuated the night air. Blinking from his position on the ground, Naruto glanced up, startled by the three kunai that seemed to have grown from Iruka-sensei's appendages. Wait. What's going on?
"So...that's it, isn't it?" Iruka said, smiling through the pain as he tugged the kunai from his limbs.
"Well well. If it isn't Iruka. I had hoped to get here first...but whatever." Mizuki stood in the bough of the tree, gazing at the duo. Gar stalked from the treeline, green eyes glinting in the night. "So...you found Naruto-kun first, hm? A pity."
Looking down at the alethiometer where he had dropped it, Iruka turned his face towards Naruto. "Naruto-kun! Grab the alethiometer! Run!" However, Naruto was still too shaken to do anything.
"But...but..."
"I have to hand it to you, Iruka. You sure don't know when to quit." Mizuki's hand whipped to his back, pulling a large, dangerous looking shuriken from its holster. "I'll just have to silence you forever, won't I?"
"Naruto! Go!" A thrumming sound filled the air, and Iruka threw himself face down, the shuriken embedding into a tree. "Naruto! The alethiometer! Take it and run!"
"Yes, run Naruto-kun. Run run run, as fast as you can!" Hopping down from the tree, Mizuki began stalking forward, a feline smile gracing his features.
"Mizuki-sensei...I...I don't understand," Naruto said, still frozen to the spot.
"Naruto, he wants the alethiometer. Run! Get out of here!" Hopping back up, Iruka pulled a kunai from his pocket, in the same instant dashing forward. A roar to his right caught him off guard as Gar plowed into him, knocking him down and pinning him to the ground.
"Haha! You really are stupid, Iruka." Turning to the boy, Mizuki got down on a knee, holding his hand out. "Naruto-kun...come now. Give me the alethiometer. There's a good boy."
Naruto glanced warily at the hand, and then back at the alethiometer. Grabbing it, he stood, still shaking. As if in a trance, he began to walk forward, hand outstretched.
"Yes, Naruto-kun. There's a good chap. Just...put it in my hand..."
"No, Naruto! Don't!" Iruka screamed. A clawed paw to the face stopped any more from coming from his mouth.
"Don't listen to Iruka-sensei, Naruto-kun. Remember, I wanted to pass you. He failed you...not me. Now...give me the alethiometer." Naruto took another few steps forward, the alethiometer hanging from its golden chain. "Yes...that's right." A few more paces...and then...the boy's hand was so close. "Yes, Naruto-kun. There...we...go..."
"Naruto-kun!" A golden furred flash jumped into Mizuki's vision. A pair of strong jaws clamped down on his outstretched hand, and he roared, shaking his arm in pain as Kyuubi hit the ground. "Naruto-kun, run!"
Snapping out of his delusional state, Naruto heeded his daemon's advice, taking to his heels and running full bore the opposite direction. "No! Come back!" Gritting his teeth in pain and frustration, Mizuki glanced down at where Iruka lay, still pinned underneath his daemon. "Well, Iruka. I guess I get to have the fun of chasing your little friend down. Now, I can just say he was trying to run away. I had no choice, don't you see? I had to kill him. It was for the good of the village." Laughing once more, Mizuki took a kunai from his pouch, twirling it in his good hand. "Anything to say, Iruka?"
Iruka merely smiled up at him, laughing slightly himself. "Yeah...got ya..." Poof! In a cloud of dust and smoke, Gar stood upon nothing. Grunting, Mizuki replaced the kunai in his pouch.
"Come on, Gar. Let's...go hunting!"
Deep in the woods, Naruto found himself with his back to a tree, trying to catch his breath. Kyuubi sat underneath him, glancing about nervously.
Naruto-kun...we cannot stay here long. We have to keep moving.
Why would Mizuki-sensei do something like this?
He wants the alethiometer, Naruto-kun. You heard Iruka-sensei.
I know. But...why? It doesn't really work. Besides...we still don't know what honor stands for.
Perhaps not, Naruto-kun. But...we have each other. Now, let's keep moving! Mizuki-sensei will catch up to us at any moment...A groan behind them turned their attention to the clearing that the tree overshadowed. On the ground, Iruka-sensei lay, panting, glaring up at...himself?
Wait...I'm here. That's not me...
It must be a henge. No sooner had Kyuubi's thoughts penetrated his mind when the henge dissipated, Iruka sitting where Naruto had been a moment before. It's Iruka-sensei. So...Iruka...must be...The same result, Iruka being replaced by Mizuki.
"Well well, Iruka. So...you knew that I would go after Naruto...so you transformed into him? Clever."
"Heh he...thanks."
"Now...I'm tired of this. I guess...I'll just have to kill you, Iruka," Mizuki said, grabbing out his shuriken once more.
"Hn. Haven't...haven't you ever...ever heard about honor, Mizuki?" As Iruka spoke, Naruto blinked.
Hey...honor! That's the word we don't know about.
True...
"Hn. Honor. That's a load of bull, and you know it!" Mizuki spat back. Gar crept from behind his man's legs, growling low in his throat.
"Heh...maybe...to you it is. But...honor...compassion...that's what the Hidden Leaf is...all about. You...you could never...never understand that." Iruka was tilting now. Naruto guessed it was from blood loss, considering that Iruka had had three kunai in him just moments before.
"Maybe. But, when I get that alethiometer from that brat...I'm gonna use it. Money and power can buy all the honor I'll ever need! Like I said...honor...is bull!" His shuriken began to twirl in his hand, and he smiled.
Honor...is bull? Kyuubi thought, glancing up at Naruto.
Eh...worth a shot. Opening the alethiometer once more, Naruto placed the remaining hand on the symbol for Bull. Suddenly, the largest hand began to spin...followed closely by the middle hand...and then the smallest hand. Naruto sat, mesmerized, as the needles continued to spin, faster and faster.
"This is the end, Iruka! You and your stupid daemon are both toast!"
Then...the needles stopped spinning.
"I'm gonna sell that thing to Iwa. Not only will I be rich, but I'll be happy when I see the village burning to the ground!"
Something in Naruto's head began to work...slowly at first, but with more clarity.
"I'm gonna enjoy ripping that kid's throat out! Gar here'll drink his blood!" Mizuki yelled, followed closely by Gar's growl.
The answer...became clear.
"Die Iruka! Die!" The shuriken spun like lightning now, and Mizuki roared out as he charged, bringing the weapon back for one last, deadly spin. Closing his eyes in subjugation, Iruka merely waited for the end.
I'm sorry, Keeshi. I failed you. I failed Naruto...I've...failed...
"Leave Iruka-sensei alone!" Mizuki had no time to dodge as a yellow flash burst into his sight, catching him in the stomach and sending him flying away off course. Smashing into a tree, Mizuki shook his head from his position on the ground, eying Naruto with disdain as Kyuubi joined him, claws and fangs in evidence. Gar hopped in front of Mizuki, his own weapons coming out.
Smiling, Mizuki stood, his shuriken still in his hand. "Well well. If it isn't the brat with the nine-tailed daemon. I was wondering if I was going to have to track you down. Looks like I can just kill you both now. Fine with me!" The weapon began to twirl again, and his smile widened. "Guess we'll have to see what you have! A no-talent rookie who couldn't even make a bunshin! Haha!" Side-stepping his daemon, Mizuki began running full tilt, bringing his hand back. "Let's see what you have, loser!"
"Fine...just try me!" His hands whipped forward, and Naruto's own smile came out. "Ninpou: Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Immediately, clones began to spring up from nowhere. Hundreds...thousands of Naruto and Kyuubi clones, ranging all across the expanse of field. Backing up slightly, Mizuki gasped as he turned about, eying the clones and smiling faces. "What...what the hell is this?" Beside him, Gar whimpered slightly, his long, black and orange tail tucked beneath him.
"Well well...if you aren't going to attack me...I'll just have to attack you!" With cries coming from all over, the clones advanced. Together, man and tiger daemon howled as one...as hundreds of fists, feet, and claws descended upon them!
In the early morning light, Naruto took each breath as it came, eying his handy work. Both Mizuki and Gar lay in the middle of the glade, the sunlight glistening off the blood from a multitude of scratches and busted lips. Still sitting next to the tree, Iruka smiled, coughing slightly. "Na...Naruto-kun. Come...come here..."
As if remembering Iruka was there, Naruto blinked, turning about. "Oh...Iruka-sensei!" Running the short distance to him, he knelt down, checking him over. "Are you alright? You're...you're hurt! We have to get you to the hospital!"
"In...in a minute. First...tell...tell me how...how you did that?"
Naruto scratched his head, looking down at his daemon, who's large, opal eyes blinked back at him. "Oh...that. Well, I asked the alethiometer how I could get the Bunshin no Jutsu to work. It said to me that I couldn't get the Bunshin to work, but I should get the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu to work. I didn't really know what that was...but...it gave me the hand-signs for it. I just did what it said to do, really," Naruto said, smiling and rubbing a hand through his hair. Iruka coughed once more, smiling back at him.
"The...alethiometer said?"
"Yeah! It knew...somehow..." Naruto replied, taking a moment to pet his daemon. Kyuubi took the petting with a purr, arching its back. Shaking his own head, Iruka convulsed with mirth.
That's...indeed a wonderful turn of events. Wonderful indeed.
Iruka-san...if Naruto-kun was able to get the alethiometer to work...than...he could be...
Hai, Keeshi-san. He could be. For now...let's just leave it at that. Out loud, Iruka sighed. "Well, Naruto-kun. I don't know how you did it...but good work. Now...there's just one more thing. Close your eyes."
Confused, Naruto did as bid, feeling something press against his forehead. As the pressure left, he heard Iruka's voice once more...and an excited bark from Kyuubi. Opening his eyes, he glanced up, shocked by the headband that rested on his forehead. "Congratulations, Naruto-kun. You're now a genin! Good work!"
"I'm...I'm...a Genin? I...passed the test?"
"That's right, Naruto. Now, how's about we go back to Konoha...and get some ramen? My treat?"
"I...I passed. We...we passed, Kyuubi!" Looking down, Naruto was rewarded with a small smirk and a look of joy from his daemon.
Hai, Naruto-kun! We passed! We're Genin now...you...and me!
"We did it! Iruka-sensei!" Jumping forward, the boy landed himself in the man's lap, hugging him tightly.
"Ow! Naruto! Ow! Stop!"
"We did it! We really did it!"
"That's great, Naruto-kun! Could you please get off Iruka-sensei now? He's...in pain."
"Oh...right. Sorry, Keeshi-sensei. Sorry...but I did it!"
Next Chapter: The alethiometer is safe...for the time being. Teams are formed, and Naruto must work with his teammates to succeed in the missions that will undoubtedly come his way. But...will he be able to? One of his teammates doesn't like him...and the other hardly speaks a word to him. Can he overcome being so...abnormal? Can he work together with others to achieve a goal?
Stuff:
Bunshin: Clone
Bunshin no Jutsu: Clone Technique
Henge: Transformation
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu: Shadow Clone Technique
A/N: If you stuck around with me for chapter 2, I am forever in your debt. I love all of you...more than Naruto loves ramen! Ok...not that much. In fact, I'm just indifferent towards you. But seriously, thanks for taking the time to read. Ja ne for now!