Chapter 1

"Hello class," Iruka-sensei came into the room, smiling at them. Today we'll be learning about- Hey! Naruto!" He gave the blond kid a stern look. "Don't fall asleep already!"

"Uh… sorry Iruka-sensei. But, history's so boring! Why can't we just start training already? I want to become a ninja!" Naruto scowled.

"This… is… important!" Iruka said through gritted teeth.

"Hai, hai," Naruto said boredly.

"Thank you," Iruka-sensei replied, sighing. "Okay, now… where was I? Oh, yeah. Today, we are learning about the battle… that killed the Fourth Hokage!"

All of the kids instantly sat up straighter, paying special attention to their sensei.

"Now, quite a long time ago, when you were all just babies, a powerful monster, a demon, attacked the village. He was… the Nine Tailed Fox!"

All the kids gasped. "The Fourth gathered with the Jonin of the village, and quickly discussed what to do. They decided that it was time to protect the village, and fight!

"Many people died as the battle raged on. Several excellent shinobi were killed by the monster…" Iruka's voice left off, as he stared into space.

"Eh, Iruka? If they were really all that good, they wouldn't have died," Naruto pointed out.

"Shut up! Silence, Naruto! You don't know what you're saying!" Iruka screamed furiously at the boy.

Naruto was shocked. Iruka-sensei was never this mean. "It must be important to him," Naruto thought to himself, shutting up.

"Those shinobi… were the bravest that ever lived!" Iruka-sensei said defiantly.

"Ahem," he said, continuing the story, "they fought bravely… but none could defeat the Nine Tailed Fox." He paused, staring at Naruto, "except, the Fourth Hokage!"

"He fought bravely, but none of his jutsus' seemed to work. He realized, that if he was to protect the village, using That jutsu. It is a forbidden justu, because only exceptional shinobi can do it… and… in order to use That justu, one must… trade his life!"

All the kids looked positively petrified. Iruka sighed, and finished up the story. "With that forbidden jutsu, he destroyed the Nine Tailed Fox, forever protecting the village," Iruka finished, wishing he didn't have to lie to them, but if he told the truth… he gave a worried glance at Naruto. If they knew… they would realize why their parents, and everyone in the village, hated Naruto… and even Naruto didn't know why.