Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto
Italics means personal thoughts
"Aw, how cute. Look at the little birdy!" A young blonde girl exclaimed while running up to cuddle Gale. Naruto sweat-dropped at her actions. If it was one thing that he had found out about his friend, it was that his companion really liked being cuddled by girls. Naruto remembered that Gale had said something about their hands being really soft.
"He's so cute. What's his name?" The blonde girl asked while continually cuddling him.
"His name is Gale and mine is Naruto. Nice to meet you, Miss..."
"Oh, sorry. Its Ino, Ino Yamanaka. Where did you buy this little guy? Please tell me, I really want to get one thats just as cute as him." Ino seemed to be really getting along with Gale. She hadn't stopped cuddling him even with the whole class starting to laugh at her performance. Ino finally seemed to hear the laughter of her new classmates and looked around self-consciously. She quickly handed Gale back and rushed to her seat with a huge blush.
Naruto walked over to her seat and sat down in the open chair beside her. He decided to continue their conversation. "I didn't buy him. I found him out in the forest. He is my best friend." Ino looked kinda stunned by that statement. She couldn't believe this kid beside her had tamed an Eagle from the forest. She also couldn't figure out how an eagle could be a best friend.
"Um... how is that little bird your best friend? Isn't it just a bird?" Ino didn't want to sound so hesitant, she was a really outgoing girl, but she really didn't understand this blonde kid besides her. Unfortunately, her questions were cut short as the teacher decided to break up their little quiet 'talk'.
"Ino Yamanaka! Please introduce yourself to the class. This is only the third time I have asked you." The teacher, whose name Ino and Naruto never caught, sighed and then put his head in his hands. This certain teacher could already see this class being a handful. Not even an hour in and two of them were already causing trouble.
"My name is Ino Yamanaka. I come from the Yamanaka Clan. I like flowers and my Daddy and cute birdies. I hate bullies. My dream is to someday become the head of my clan." Ino stated with all the pride of a 8 year old girl. The teacher thought she sounded cute. Next he turned to Uzumaki.
"Naruto, please introduce yourself to the class." The brown-haired teacher asked, or demanded, Naruto couldn't decide. Naruto knowing that this was his time to show the class he was... special, decided to go all out with the introduction. With around 30 eight year old kids looking on, and one teacher, Naruto made his debut into the world.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and this right here is Gale." Naruto finished his sentence by pointing to his companion. "I like ramen, I sometimes like Anko-san, I always like my companion Gale, and I like training. I also dislike bullies and sometimes I dislike Anko-san, depends on what she is doing at the time. My dream is to be special. I don't know how I will do this yet, but someday everyone in the world will know my name! I will start my journey by becoming the best ninja to come out of the Academy. Believe it!"
The class didn't really know how to take that introduction. Some thought of just laughing uproariously while others looked on the blonde boy with stars in their eyes. One certain Uchiha snorted because he already knew that the position of best would go to him. Mr. Teacher, who happened to be gifted with the name Iruka, coughed to get attention back on him.
"My name is Umino Iruka. I will be your sensei for the next 4 years of your life. I am sure you all will enjoy having me, and I am sure we will get along great. Over these four years, you will be taught the history of Konoha, how to detect genjutsu, 3 ninjutsu, a taijutsu style, and many other little things that will culminate in your taking of the genin exam. If you pass the exam, then you become ninja of Konoha. Any questions?"
At his question, no one really raised their hand. Iruka, taking this for awe at his speaking skills, decided to move on. Deciding to nip his first problem in the bud, Iruka decided to address Naruto on his bringing a pet to school.
"Naruto, I am sorry to say that the school doesn't allow pets to be brought. The rules say that only ninja animals can be brought... no pets." Expecting to see Naruto's shocked look, Iruka was surprised when he saw the blonde start smirking. Smirking was something that Iruka would later come to fear, he was just lucky that Naruto didn't have anything bad planned this time.
"But, Iruka-sensei, Gale is a ninja animal. He can already use chakra as well." Naruto answered with his most innocent smile. Ino, seeing this smile, just knew that the boy next to her had to be the sweetest boy in the whole world. Not only did he have a cute bird, he just looked so innocent.
"Naruto, I have never heard of using a bird for a ninja animal, so I would appreciate it if you didn't lie to me." Iruka demanded sternly, he knew that he had to show the class he was tough. Naruto retained his innocent smile because Anko-san had told him how to handle any teachers that questioned Gale's presence.
"But, Iruka-sensei, Anko-san told me explicitly that Gale was a ninja animal, and if anyone didn't believe it, that they could come to her for a heart-to-heart chat." Naruto finished with the most innocent expression he could summon. He had found out what Anko meant when she said heart-to-heart when he had learned she worked in the torture and interrogation department.
After hearing this, Iruka paled noticeably. He, along with most other chunin and higher ninja, knew the rumors of one Anko Mitarashi. He did not want to speak to her under any circumstances. He decided to take the coward's way and allow Naruto to keep his pet.
"Well in that case, I believe it would be perfectly fine if you keep your pet here with you. Now lets begin class!" Naruto couldn't believe his sensei still didn't believe him about Gale! What was the man, an idiot? Shaking his head at the stubbornness of some people, Naruto started paying attention to what he would be learning.
"Don't worry about people who think I am just a pet. When I enter battle by your side, they will be totally surprised. Think of me as your ace in the hole." Gale told Naruto. To everyone else it was just a bird's chirping, but to Naruto it was words of wisdom. Naruto decided to listen to his friend. Besides, Gale usually was right in these kinds of situations. Hadn't they kicked one of Anko's clone's ass by using one of Gale's strategies. Gale was a smart bird.
Class ended and all the little children ran to their mommies who were waiting on them. Naruto, not having a mommy, ran to Anko's house to play. At this point, many of the ninja in Konoha would have been praying for his soul, but what they didn't know wouldn't scare them. Naruto stopped in front of an apartment building that was surprisingly close to his own apartment complex.
"Well, Brat, how was your first day at the Academy? Was it as fun as spending time we the beautiful and sexy Anko! Anko shouted the last part out while doing a little spin. If anyone of her neighbors heard her, they didn't show it. They probably heard the rumors about her. Naruto couldn't blame them if they had. Those rumors were nasty things. Naruto himself couldn't believe how... weird Anko-san could be at times. Strange woman.
"Well, I might have made a new friend. I am not really sure yet. She is from the Yamanaka Clan. Um, besides that, the day was kinda boring. Though, it was funny watching the teacher sweat when I mentioned he could come have a heart-to-heart chat with you if he didn't believe me about Gale." Naruto gave his... well, he really didn't know what Anko was to him. What started out as a babysitting assignment from the Hokage quickly turned into something else when Anko got so interested in the brat she had to spend time with. It was not everyday a lucky woman met someone who had a bird as a ninja animal, after all.
Anko chuckled at Naruto's description of the Academy. Seemed like it hadn't changed much since she used to go there. She then looked at the kid in front of her. He had confessed to her that he wanted to be the best the Academy had seen in a while. She didn't know how the kid could accomplish this, but she did have a slight idea. Though, she wasn't sure if he could pull it off. Nothing to do but try, she concluded.
"Naruto, if you really want to be the best in the Academy, you're going to need something special. To that end, I am going to teach you all I know about hand-seals and chakra manipulation. With these two things, I believe a smart kid like you will be able to come up with his own jutsu. Don't forget Gale either! He needs his own jutsu to work with. Though without hand-signs, it will be a little harder for him. Your a lucky Brat in that I know the perfect jutsu for him." Anko finished with a smile. Naruto returned her smile with interest. He was lucky that Anko was kind to him. He had seen her with others, and sometimes it had not been pretty... at all.
Anko took Naruto to a nearby training ground and began the training session. She lectured Naruto on all twelve hand-seals. She also mentioned that their were some special hand-seals for specific jutsus. After a two hour lecture, Anko was getting bored, so she decided to spice things up- Anko-style.
"What hand-seal is best suited for water jutsu!" Anko barked. At Naruto's confused look, Anko had just undergone a complete 180 in attitude after all, she simply smirked. "Not fast enough!" So saying, she started throwing kunai at the confused boy. Yelping, Naruto scrambled to get away while Gale took flight. Anko alternated her throws between the bird and the boy. Didn't ever get the bird. Stupid of me to teach him how to enhance his speed. Did get the boy. Aw, the sweet smell of blood. Always a plus in getting up in the morning.
"What the hell is wrong with you, you Crazy Lady. Here I was just thinking about how nice your were and you do this!" Naruto hysterically yelled. Anko hadn't been this bad to him since that very first day. Anko got a small chuckle from seeing the Brat's reaction. She truly loved to have some fun with the kid every now and then.
"You need to work on your reflexes more, Brat! That was pathetic. You didn't see Gale getting hit did you? That means you need work! And I know just the way to work you. Shi shi shi!" Naruto gulped when he heard the evil laughter at the end. He didn't like evil laughter. What he saw next made him really not like evil laughter. A 10 foot snake just appeared out of nowhere!
Anko really took enjoyment from seeing the look of shock at her summoning. The Kid obviously hadn't learned anything about summoning yet, well he had only gone to the Academy one day. Anko sent her summoned snake, a mildly poisonous cobra, to attack. After seeing a large snake rushing at him, Naruto did the only thing any little boy would do, he ran away screaming. This set Anko off into helpless laughter. She couldn't believe the little boy who braved the Forest of Death would be sent running from a snake. I really need to bring a camera around this kid, he's a gold mine for good photos.
Naruto could hear Anko's laughter while running away from the huge snake. I am so going to get that woman back! She will pay for this! Naruto looked around for Gale. Maybe my friend can take care of this snake, Naruto thought kindly. The problem was that he found Gale preening himself in a tree across the clearing. Oh, no he didn't. Seemingly betrayed on all sides, Naruto turned to confront his pursuer.
Naruto pulled out one of the kunai Anko had given him to practice with. He was going to show them that he could take care of himself without their help. He charged the snake that was rushing straight at him. Anko burst into a whole new laughing spree when she saw this. That little kid with a little kunai is rushing the big bad snake. Ha ahaha ha aha! I so need a camera whenever I am around this kid!
What she saw next shut her laughter up real quick though. Watching Naruto closely to make sure he didn't get too hurt, Anko saw something that completely floored here. The brat defeated her summon! How the hell did he do that? I know that summon wasn't the strongest but Damn! Ok, lets review what just happened. Anko calmed herself and thought back to what she had just seen.
Ok, he turned to rush the snake with a kunai. Right before he reached the snake, the snake lunged. Naruto's eyes flashed red for a moment, he dodged, and then he struck the snake in the head with the kunai... Something about that scenario doesn't make sense. Why would his eyes flash red? Does it have something to do with the Kyuubi? Alarmed at her sudden thought, Anko decided that the Hokage needed to know about this right away.
Making a clone to take the Brat's anger, Anko shunshined to the office of the Hokage. Striding past the complaining secretary, Anko swept into the office of one of the most powerful ninjas in the elemental countries. "Something is wrong with Naruto's eyes! Could it be the Kyuubi?" Both sentences came out in a rush because of her worry, but Sarutobi got the gist of it.
"Calm down, Anko, and tell me exactly what happened." Anko, hearing this, stopped and took a few breaths. Letting herself cool down, Anko took a seat and propped her legs up. She pulled out a dango stick, from somewhere... and started munching down on it. Sarutobi sweat-dropped slightly at the placement of said dango stick.
"Ok, I summoned a snake to test Naruto's reflexes." Raising an eyebrow, Sarutobi decided that he would have a word with Anko after this about responsible training methods. "It looked like the kid was going to get munched on, but then he dodged. While dodging, I noticed that his eyes turned red. He then plunged the kunai into the snake's head. When the eyes turned red, was that the Kyuubi?" Anko was very fearful of the answer. She had taken a liking to the brat. She had even been considering taking him into her own home. She didn't want anything to be wrong with him.
"Did you feel any of the Kyuubi's chakra?" was the discerning question of the wise Hokage. At Anko's negative response, Sarutobi thought of the only other option it could be. "Could it have been the sharingan? But I wouldn't see how that is possible. Naruto has no relation to the Uchiha. It would have to be the Kyuubi's doing, but why?" Hiruzen was muttering this almost to himself, but Anko was paying attention to every word.
Anko was in shock. Could that little kid really have the sharingan? It didn't seem possible, but if he did, the possibility of him making his own jutsu just increased. First she would have to teach him how to activate it outside of combat. From watching his performance earlier, she really might have a battling genius on her hands. Anko started smiling at all the possibilities piling up in her mind. The kid could be a gold mine for more than laughs it seemed.
"Keep careful watch over the situation, Anko. Report to me if you notice any other problems." With an excited Hai, Anko quickly left to get back to her clone. After arriving at the clearing and dismissing her clone, she found out the boy had pitched quite the fit. Shrugging it off as unimportant, Anko went straight back to teaching him. Looking affronted, Naruto was about to storm away even if what Gale said about the training being good for him was true. Then he saw the excited look on Anko-san's face. It... interested him.
"Brat! I have just found out that there might be the chance you have the sharingan. To determine this, I will be attacking you with the intent to harm until you manifest it or die trying. Better get ready." Anko teased to the scared little eight year old in front of her. Naruto couldn't believe what he was being told. There was no way he had the sharingan. Where did Anko even get that crazy idea from?
Running away from the crazy woman, Naruto had to dodge attack after attack. He got his first real taste of her seriousness when she landed a punch on him that sent him flying. Gale yelled in outrage at that one. It seems like she was serious. I better stay out of this. If she is right, then it will greatly increase my friend's power. Naruto, you better survive this. Gale silently prayed.
Naruto was taking a serious beating. He was getting run ragged across the whole clearing. Finally, he faced off against Anko and rushed her. Slightly surprised, and impressed, Anko remembered the last time Naruto had attacked his attacker. She smirked figuring this was the moment that he would awaken his eyes. She was not disappointed. As he neared, Naruto's eyes flickered red. Anko could see the single tomoe in each eye. She shivered in excitement.
"Thats it! You have the sharingan. Now attack me with it! Harness the ability, Naruto! Show me your specialness!" At the last sentence, Naruto doubled his efforts to attack Anko. He started out by throwing his kunai to her right side. This forced her to dodge to the left which was just what Naruto was wanting.
He was on her in seconds. Delivering a quick punch to the stomach, Naruto then went for a leg sweep. He was frustrated in his efforts by Anko blocking the punch and jumping over his sweep. Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly. I can see her! Maybe she was right in that I have the sharingan. Its like I can almost see her before she even starts moving. This is amazing. Now, lets really try out this ability. I will show the world I am special!
Quickly jumping forward, Naruto tried to deliver a headbutt into Anko's stomach. She raised her leg to parry this, but Naruto already saw that she would do this. He grabbed her leg and then sent her flying towards a tree. Surprised, but pleased, at Naruto's actions, Anko did a flip in the air and landed easily on the tree. She smiled at her new apprentice. I am so going to train this kid. I am not letting anyone else get this kid until he graduates from the Academy. His next four years are mine. Shi shi shi!
Naruto, not being able to read minds, quickly rushed back into the fray. He didn't understand that Anko had already stopped fighting, he just wanted to get her back. Unfortunately, Anko was having none of it as she quickly shunshined behind him and knocked him unconscious.
"Gale, get your butt down here!" Gale quickly flapped down and landed on Naruto's stuck-up behind. He cocked his head curiously at her. "Tale Naruto when he wakes up that he is moving in with me. I will personally be taking control of his training even more now then I did before. Before the Academy is out I will make sure he has at least two self-made jutsu if it kills him. I will also make sure to teach you at least two jutsus. One will be a speed jutsu while the other will be a wind jutsu. Prepare yourself, Gale, and tell Naruto to prepare himself as well. I will not be nice, but by the time I am through with you, you will be special." Gale practically tasted the last word as Anko put so much emphasis on it.
Gale nodded his head and watched as Anko disappeared with a shunshin. Gale knew that his companion would be something truly special. He also knew that if he didn't really dedicate himself to learning what Anko would teach him that Naruto would leave him in the dust. He would not allow that. Gale promised himself then that his name would be known right there alongside Naruto's when history was made. Believe it!
A new training schedule began for Naruto and Gale. They would start off each day by running, or flying, around the perimeter of Konoha. Anko said this was to build stamina. She also increased the number of laps every time she thought they were getting to used to the distance. This resulted in some impressive cursing from an eight year old, but Anko shrugged it off with ease.
After their run, both would head to the Academy. Their they would learn some history while the rest of their time was being bored out of mind. Anko taught Naruto all she could about shape manipulation after school. She was going to make sure he could make a jutsu, or she was going to hurt him. Anko Mitarashi didn't go back on her promises.
Naruto did make a solid friend in Ino though. Whenever Naruto could get away from training, Ino was always his playmate of choice. Another friend Naruto made was a certain Aburame. Many would look strangely at this friendship, but both were boys very serious about their ninja training. Also both boys ended up communicating with their respective partners more than actual people, so the friendship wasn't as surprising when they figured out they had this in common.
Other than those two, Naruto's list of friends didn't really extend far. Ever since starting his training with Anko, Naruto had become more... confident. Many would call it arrogance, but something can't be arrogance when it can be backed up. Naruto had even let Gale battle some of his Academy classmates by himself. He had almost wet himself he'd laughed so hard. Gale had flown circles around some nobody and defeated him with contemptuous ease.
Naruto did happen to get along with some other members of his class even though he definitely wouldn't call them friends. Choji and Shikamaru were two prime candidates. Two people Naruto didn't really get along with were Kiba and Sasuke. Kiba tried to show the class that Akamaru was so much better than Gale one day by a match between the two. Gale had destroyed Akamaru. Kiba was extremely humiliated and promised that he would show everyone how much better the Inuzuka were. He hadn't been able to do that yet though.
Naruto also didn't get along with Sasuke. One reason was that Naruto almost couldn't see the boy without laughing. Here was the last Uchiha in Konoha, heir to the clan before they were wiped out, and he still couldn't activate his sharingan. Naruto activated his at eight years old. No one knew that fact except Anko, but it still caused them mass hilarity when they thought about it. The other reason the two didn't get along was that Naruto handily beat the Uchiha's butt every time they fought. Naruto thought it was funny, but apparently Sasuke took great humiliation in the act.
Naruto did move in with Anko. He considered it one of the best moves in his life. Others would have wet their pants if they had known that Konoha's jinchuriki had moved in with a known sadist, but no one really realized that the two lived together. It was safe to say that Naruto's attitude was slightly changed upon prolonged exposure to Anko Mitarashi. Naruto thought it was for the better, but he was probably the only one. Gale didn't mind though, and as long as Ino saw his innocent smile, she believed he was an angel in disguise.
Naruto happened to learn some secrets of his sharingan. Anko had snuck into the Uchiha compound after the massacre and had obtained some key information on it. She had explained to her little brother, they considered themselves practically brother and sister, that their was another stage to the sharingan. If he ever unlocked it, it would slowly make him go blind unless he had another Uchiha's eyes implanted into his own. This surprised him, but he knew that he would have to at least get the third tomoe before he could even think about the next level to the sharingan.
Naruto did indeed create the two techniques Anko had told him he would. Anko had to admit that they were very versatile jutsu. One was a wind jutsu while the other was another wind jutsu. Naruto promised her that the next jutsu he made would be a fire one. The first wind jutsu involved making a small ball on the tip of his finger with a chakra shell. He would then solidify the chakra shell with wind chakra. The wind chakra had none of the sharpness that wind was known for because Naruto hadn't learnt much about elemental manipulation yet. Anko was going to remedy that soon, though. All Naruto had to do with the jutsu was point, create the horse sign with his other hand, aim, and fire. Naruto called it the Wind Bullet.
Naruto's other created jutsu was more of him taking a concept from another already made jutsu and turning it to his own purpose, but Anko let it slide. Naruto, after seeing the beauty of snakes from his sister, decided to create an elemental snake. He used shape manipulation on the Great Breakthrough Jutsu to turn the wind into a snake right after coming out of his mouth. Then using chakra manipulation, Naruto had the snake surround him or strike at the enemy. He called it the Wind Snake. Naruto could basically do what he wanted with the snake. Anko was more impressed with the skill her brother showed with this jutsu. They were both C-rank jutsu, but Anko figured when Naruto knew how to make his wind chakra sharp that they would be at B-rank.
Anko had seen Naruto use his Wind Bullet against her mud clone. The jutsu had only blown the clone back a little. When the Bullet was sharp though, Anko started salivating at the thought. The same could be said for the Wind Snake. Naruto had already told her how he would make fangs come from the snake's mouth while the body part could wrap up people and even capture them if he wanted it to. She had to admit that the kid had really thought it out. She was proud.
She was even more proud when she had seen her brother practicing the Great Fireball jutsu. She could only assume he had nicked it off the Uchiha kid with his sharingan. The thing that she truly questioned was if she should allow him to sign the snake summoning contract. There were great pros and cons both ways, but she hadn't made up her mind yet. She was still pondering.
Naruto had decided to go back to the apartment after finishing his training for the night. His physical exercises had been increased again recently. He was becoming quiet good at finishing his sit-ups, push-ups, squats, and running in great time. Thus, the increase in amount. Naruto now usually did in the 1000s on his basic exercises. He only did about 100 though when he combined the physical exercises with his chakra control exercise on the tree.
While at the Academy, Naruto noticed something in himself that had truthfully surprised him. He liked to command people. It started out with little things, but before he knew it, he had started to issue commands on a regular basis to some of the no-clan kids. He had even done it to the Hyuuga girl a couple of times and he had taken to his commands with a will. It was almost like she was trained to accept the commands of anyone she thought was her better. It was kinda sad.
Walking home and contemplating the years of his enrollment at the Academy, Naruto really couldn't help laughing. The only thing he had learned at the Academy was that one illusion he had copied from his sensei. The Big-Head jutsu was an illusion he could never see himself using. The one thing he really couldn't wait for was for his eyes to move onto the third tomoe. They had advanced to the second tomoe early in his eleventh year. Anko-neechan had decided to summon one of her larger summons to attack him without restraint. He had spent a week in the hospital, but it had been worth it in his opinion. The second tomoe opened up a lot of options in battle for him. He had demonstrated this fact to his nee-chan by almost getting a hit on her in a spar.
Naruto snorted as he finally spotted his apartment. He decided to go straight to sleep because he had a genin exam to ace tomorrow. Naruto yawned. It sure takes a lot of work to be special, were his last thoughts before falling asleep.
A/N: Sorry for just summarizing the Academy years and to anyone who wanted to see the Academy years. I really wanted to get him out of there fast. Now I can start really showing the attitude Naruto will have in this fic. This attitude of his will be one of the major points in this fic, so I hope I do it right. Hope no one really hated the whole sharingan angle but that had been a major point from the beginning. Gale will also show what he learned through the Academy years the next chapter. Enjoy.
