Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and its characters…except for my own created OCs.

AN: I forgot…. In the start of the anime, Itachi and Iruka are only supposed to be 17 and 25 respectively. Just a note: Since I don't want Iruka to seem too old for Itachi, I changed both their ages to 20 yrs old to fit my story better. So sorry for the mistake…

PS: Ignore the text inside the () for they are merely my comments.

PPS: The italicized words are flashbacks.

Tutor et Ultor

Formerly known as 'Shards of My Secret Unkempt'

By Paranoia-shoujo & lain-trigger01

Chapter 12 :: Cheating Pranks

"We'll be going to our rooms now, Gaara." Temari whispered as they parted with him to move to their own rooms. Gaara allowed them to leave with no more than a glance to show he'd heard her words. Staring out his room window, he watched the flicker of lights below before turning to stare at his own reflection. Spying movement at his right, he closed his eyes and attacked.

It was minutes later when Ayako realized her mistake. Her body was suspended a few feet from the ground by chains of sand. It was with a sigh that she thanked the heavens for actually remembering to wear her mask today. Testing her bounds, she felt Gaara's green eyes glaring up at her. Turning to look back at him, she realized that he was staring at her with something akin to curiosity. "You were following us."

It was a statement, she realized. He'd known the whole time that she was spying on them. The question was why he chose to confront her alone and not with his team. Still confused, she kept her silence, figuring that if he wished to know something then he would be the first to make a move.

It was with disappointment that she realized that that wasn't the case. He stared at her now for over an hour and neither seemed inclined to continue the conversation. She wondered though why it was that he still hadn't killed her.

She was startled out of her mental debate when he suddenly spoke. "Why do you not fear me? When your life I can easily take away?"

"…why should I fear?", she replied, "I am a shinobi, is it not in my job description that I stare at death with courage on a regular basis? So why should I fear you, when I've never feared others before…"

Feeling anger at her words, Gaara's sand moved to attack her but change course and instead destroyed her mask. It was with minimal surprise that Gaara saw himself staring back at the face of the one he'd rescued before. "…You…"

"Your message was well received."

"I was mistaken."

"?" Seeing her confused face, he let loose the chains binding her, allowing her to fall lightly on the floor.

"Two bijuus are within Konoha's walls." He reiterated as he again faced the windows and the lights below.

"…"

Turning back to face Ayako, Gaara set his face back into a glare. "Leave."

"…"

"Come back and your life will be forfeit." With that he allowed her leave before going back to stare at the lights of the village surroundings.

Naruto believed himself above pranks, especially now that he was already an ANBU, regardless of the fact that it was not official or that it was a secret between him and the Sandaime... and probably the next Kage as well. That belief didn't help him at all, much worse he felt the insistence of his kitsune counterpart to trick all of these people. The greatest prank ever... It seemed as if his days as the dobe were slowly but surely eating at his control. His fingers itched for action; it would be easy to disrupt all of these with just a flick... his brain supplied.

Turning just a bit, he saw the scowls and frowns all of these ninja were training on their pieces of paper. His own sheet was left carefully blank if not for a few words that he'd wanted to say to the Hokage. Closing his eyes, he could feel Sakura's concerned gaze upon his back. She must be worried about me dragging the team, he thought to himself as he contemplated on whether or not he should write the answers on his paper or not. It would surprise everyone, that much he was sure... but would it create enough of a ripple for them to wonder...?

It was with much gusto that he raised his pen to write all the correct answers on his paper. He could feel Hinata's eyes widening at his actions. It was hilarious, the shock she felt was rolling in waves and it tickled his senses like a drug. This was what he missed during his days in the Uzumaki clan. There, everyone was watching over him, protecting him, training him... and everyone there, except for Grandpa, Uncle, and his two cousins, were just overeager bakayarous trying to impress and stick close to him for when he becomes the next head. He hated it. He'd rather they feel their disdain compared to the sick feeling of being played, but he enjoyed playing with them, that much he was certain.

Feeling intense eyes on his person, Naruto peeked a glance to find Neji's Byakugan eyes burning holes on him. Giving himself a mental kick, he did something he knew was against his training. He allowed a small almost unnoticeable flicker of his chakra to rise in answer to his questioning gaze. Feeling the stare intensify, he mentally smirked before turning back his attention to Ibiki, as well as on the few chuunin scattered around the room.

Laughing at the gall of the orange-clad genin, Naruto Uzumaki if he remembered correctly, Ibiki was about to put down his paper when it glowed a pale blue to reveal correct answers to the test questions. He assessed that the young Uzumaki did this to throw off suspicion to his normally idiotic behavior. Ibiki wondered though if he was indeed the idiot he portrayed or a genius with a flare for pranks.

Frowning, he felt the paper burn his hand before it showed something he knew the Hokage would be interested to hear.

'Warn the Shadows. Snakes abound, hidden among the masses.'

She watched through slitted eyes, the bright one - the one her master called 'Naruto', leave the group. They had exchanged a bunch of words that they had deigned as their 'passwords', prior to his leaving, and she could not help but wonder why they'd thought this only now. Surely, they knew of the multiple eyes and ears upon them.

Minutes later, the bright one, or so he appeared, returned. Her eyes narrowed as the pink one accepted the doppelganger so easily when deceit could easily be smelled on the air. Her senses could not possibly be that weak, could it? Realizing her foolishness, as she recalled that ningen had weaker senses, she as about to attack when her master threw a sharp metal at him. Pleasantly surprised, although she was a bit expecting it, she watched the mock fight between the two. Yes, she thought to herself, my master is indeed a smart one.

After ascertaining that no one had followed him, Naruto quickly made the necessary hand signs and whispered 'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu'. Turning to his clones, he told them to watch out for the other teams, the village, as well as the Hokage himself. Truthfully, he knew that his clones were no match for Konoha's present enemies. Their only use for now was their ability to send him information quickly. Watching them slowly disperse, he felt Kyuubi stir within his cage. He had been doing so, often, and it troubled Naruto that Kyuubi was this restless…especially now that Shukaku's jinhuuriki was within Konoha, not to mention the strange feeling of unease he felt whenever in the immediate area as the younger Uchiha.

Feeling a presence behind him, he was aghast to find a large snake's open mouth bearing down on him.

Fighting the pale snake-like Grass nin, Sasuke could not help but mutter, "Damnit Naruto! Where are you?!"

Hearing his words, Orochimaru could not help but cackle. Turning towards the tired pair, he said. "You are waiting in vain. He is otherwise occupied, fighting for his life against the large snake I sent to make a meal out of him."

Seeing the horror on Sakura's face, he gave out an evil laugh. Unseen, Sasuke's eyes began to bleed red, the tomoes in his eyes spinning wildly.

"SHIT!!!!!!!!" was the first word that came from Naruto's mouth after regaining consciousness. He was within the snake's insides, the slim and the venom were enough evidence t such a conclusion; and that fact didn't help the irritation he felt from the Kyuubi at his incompetence. Glaring at the slimy wals, h felt the insistent pulling of Kyuubi at his consciousness. Closing his eyes momentarily, he reopened them to see the sewer-like surroundings of his mind.

Stepping forward towards the Kyuubi's cage, he was met with furious red eyes. "Why didn't you killhe who dares mock us?!" Kyuubi raged, "Why did you allow us to be swallowed by such filth?!"

"I can't injure him from the out…" he replied with a frown, and was about to continue when the Kyuubi cut in.

"And so you deemed us fit to be mere food to such lowlife?!" he asked sarcastically, glaring at the boy.

"I'm not all-powerful, Kyuubi. I still have my weaknesses. You cannot blame me for looking for other ways to defeat him." Naruto reasoned out.

Smirking, as if waiting for this, Kyuubi responded, "You could be, if you accept my offer, ningen."

Glancing at him sideways, he puffed out a sigh before, "A human would die for and with that power. My mind and body wouldn't be able to handle it."

A sarcastic grin was his answer along with, "It could… if you accept my other offer…"

"I'm not giving up my humanity, fox." Naruto answered with a glare.

"It's not as if you're giving it up altogether, ningen no baka."

Turning serious, Naruto looked him in the eye before stating, "I treasure my humanity, Kyuubi. Nothing would ever change that… at the very least, it certainly won't be for want of power."

Glaring at the impudent boy, Kyuubi replied, "Heed my words, ningen. You'd surely change your tune…when the time comes…" His words were ominous and filled with promise.

Watching the fight between her master and the one who smelt of snake and venom, she could not help but worry. Their difference in power and strength was apparent to her, and seeing the stranger play with her master left her wanting to sink her claws in his flesh. But still her master fought, even though tired and obviously weaker, it seemed as if the snake man's statement about the bright one had fully angered him, the thought of his death acting as her master's adrenaline boost.

Distracted by the sudden spike of chakra, which she surmised as 'Naruto's' as well as the sound of ripping flesh, she was unable to react quickly enough to stop her master's enemy from biting him. Her eyes narrowing, she launched at his bare elongated neck, her claws extended to the very tip.

AN: Care to give me ideas, dearies?