A/N: And here it is. Chapter two to Monster. hopefully this story will get as much attention as most naruto stories seem to get. Anyways. enjoy.
Sarutobi was at a loss for words. Oh kami, they finally broke him.
Naruto laughed in his face, "Damn gramps, you look like you're about to have a heart attack."
"Naruto!" Sarutobi shouted. He was truly at a loss for words. He, he just didn't know how to respond to that. How does one hear their grandson tell them that he is a monster? Not only that, but his eyes were red and slitted, implanting the slightest twinkle of doubt. Sarutobi instantly berated himself. No matter what Naruto looks like, no matter what he says, he is still the same little goofball I love. He snuck a glance at the blonde out of the corner of his eye as he led him back to the Hokage tower. The blonde had an emotionless look on his face as he stared down all the cold glares the villagers sent him. Still, a trip to Inoichi wouldn't be a bad thing.
XXXXXXX
"You want me to WHAT?" Naruto yelled. Sarutobi was smirking, on the inside of course. This level of passion was more like the little spitfire Naruto normally was.
"Naruto, calm yourself. I merely suggested that you should see Inoichi." Sarutobi said sagely.
"Inoichi Yamanaka, co-owner of the Yamanaka flower shop as well as Ino Yamanaka's father. Also, he happens to be a mind walker as well as the last resort expert for the T&I department." Naruto shouted, fixing a red eyed glare on the old man. He'd be lying if it wasn't unnerving.
"Naruto, how do you know so much about him?" Sarutobi asked, wide eyed.
"When I was in the hole, I asked for some books. And before you ask, I can see well enough in the dark. I don't understand it but I can. Anyways, all they brought me was a textbook and phonebook. I read the phonebook first. Then I read the textbook, the one from the ninja academy this year. With nothing else to do, I memorized both. The text book mentioned the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. They were one of the most successful teams during the third great ninja war. They were since reincarnated with their children, Choza Akimichi, Shikaku Nara, and Inoichi Yamanaka. They, once again were quite successful, though not as much as their parents. They have since all but retired though all still remain on the active rosters, they have been classified as emergency Nin only. Inoichi, however, is also on as a last resort examiner for the torture and interrogation department." Naruto said in one breath, arms crossed and eyes closed.
Sarutobi was, surprised, to say the least. "Naruto, how do you know so much about Inoichi?"
Naruto sighed. "You have a law that says that any active Ninja must be put down in the phonebook as such. That grouped with the textbook, I was able to put together all about the previous and present Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and the textbook also mentioned that a few enemy Ninja have been interrogated and broken by the former Ino-Shika-Cho member, Inoichi Yamanaka."
Sarutobi was actually surprised. So much information could be found in two common books. He would have to pull back that law about the Ninja in the phonebook in the very least. He remembered the civilian council was being particularly pushy and he passed one of their mild laws, just to placate them.
"And since we're on the subject…" Naruto began, interrupting Sarutobi's thoughts. "I hope you're not going to run the Ino-Shika Cho trio a third time."
Sarutobi cocked an eyebrow at this, "Why?"
Naruto sighed again, "I believe it was you who said, and I quote, "When used often, even the strongest weapon can be countered." It was on page sixty-two, second chapter, right before the tactics sub-section."
Sarutobi was impressed. Naruto wasn't just blowing smoke when he said he memorized the textbook. And indeed, Sarutobi remembered that exact quote; he had said it to his troops during the third great Ninja war when the Iwa Nin kept using a very devastating tactic. The fourth had thought up a counter and it was moments before putting it into action.
"All right Naruto, I'll make you a deal. Since you were so rudely locked up for a month, in the dark no less, I'll let you have a looksee at the team formations I thought up this year. And in return, I want your opinion on the matter. Let loose, hold nothing back."
Naruto snorted, "Like I've ever had trouble with that before. Okay let me see old man." Sarutobi handed over the folder containing the Genin teams. "Let's see here, Ino-Shika-Cho, right off the bat, next, a scouting team, and finally a… Old man, why am I on here?"
Sarutobi smiled, "Naruto Uzumaki, you have now been officially graduated and promoted to rank of Genin of Kanoha. Please take this headband and wear it proudly." He took out a slightly beat up headband with the leaf symbol on it.
"That's…"
"I thought you should have it."
Naruto seemed to struggle for a moment before finally settling his face in an emotionless mask. "Thank you Hokage-sama." He said formally. "Anyways, the last team is an assault team with a weak link, specialized and weakened by the break in the chain."
"Would you mind elaborating?"
"With me and my massive chakra stores, Sasuke, being the rookie of the year, and Sakura being the Kunoichi of the year, it sound good in theory, but the reality of the situation is that while Sakura is smart by all means, she lacks skill in any literal sense. In other words, she can't apply her knowledge. Not only that, but while she may have perfect chakra control, she has very low chakra capacity. While this is easily rectified with some hard work, it won't help."
"Why not?" Sarutobi asked, his interest peaked.
"She's a fan girl." Both males shuddered. "I don't know why I never saw it before but instead of training, she been primping, trying to gain Sasuke's attention."
"I see. Well then, anything else?"
"You specialized the teams."
"I usually let the Jonin pick their squads." Sarutobi finally clarified.
"Well stop, they're not doing any of us any favors. Ino-Shika-Cho is at an immediate disadvantage, my "Squad" would end up falling apart, and I can't see an Inuzuka and an Aburame working well together, they're polar opposites."
"Very well, I see your point. I'll look over it and make my decision. Now, to the matter of your clothing and place to live, which I'm afraid has been burned to the ground in your absence."
Naruto flinched slightly.
"I have lined you up to receive Iruka-kun's old apartment. Seeing how he had no family or close friends other than Mizuki and yourself, I have also arranged for all of his worldly good to go to you as well." Sarutobi said professionally, though he was applying mild chakra to his throat to keep himself from getting choked up. No student should ever watch their teacher and closest friend die. The old man quickly wrote up a check of substantial size. "Here is your payment for an A rank mission as well as compensation for your false imprisonment. Use it as you see fit but I would recommend some new clothes, weapons, as well as some groceries."
Naruto nervously shuffled from one foot to the other. "Um, Gramps?"
Sarutobi smiled slightly, knowing this was a personal request from the familiar way he addressed him. "Yes Naruto-kun?"
"Could you please give me a document, that will make the shopkeepers sell to me? It was never a problem before, cause my clothes were almost always fine but now that they're ash and this pair is ruined…" Naruto trailed off as the Hokage held out the check as well as the requested document and smiled. "You're the best old man."
He chuckled, "I'm glad you think so because now that you're a Ninja, and my subordinate, I hereby order you to attend a session with Inoichi every Saturday from now until he deems you completely and utterly tranquil of mind. And don't delude yourself, that's quite the difficult thing to do, especially for a Ninja."
Naruto glared.
"And the gratitude is gone. Don't spend the whole check on ramen Naruto." Sarutobi said, excusing Naruto, but not before he hear him mumble about "bossy old geezers" and where they can shove their orders. Sarutobi grinned openly as he puffed his tobacco. Yup, Naruto is in there, though he'll never quite be the same. I still wonder why he said he was a monster. Guess I'll just have to wait for Inoichi-kun's report. "Is it true you gave him a phonebook and a textbook to read, ANBU-san?" Sarutobi asked the shadow in the corner.
"I also gave him a dictionary." The ANBU answered. Sarutobi chuckled warmly.
XXXXXXX
Naruto was strolling down the market district, mostly ignoring the glares he received for being the monster he was. He couldn't really blame them for hating him anymore, but he didn't have to like it.
Seeing a clothes store, Naruto walked in casually. He began sorting through the racks, slowly heading for the Ninja section when the store clerk noticed him and called the manager. Getting in Naruto's way, the man sneered.
"Get out, we don't serve your kind here demon."
Naruto looked completely unimpressed. "Okay, one, You just mentioned what I am, therefore breaking a law set in with S class ranking and is punishable by death. I just have to report you to the nearest ANBU or Jonin and you can be tried, sentenced, and executed within the hour." The man visibly paled. The glare Naruto was fixing on him probably had something to do with it as well. "And two, I have a signed document from the Hokage." Naruto finished, handing him the document.
The man looked over it, and then held it up to the light, as if to check if it was real. He sighed in defeat as Naruto took the paper back and tucked it into his shirt. "Go right ahead then… sir." The man said hesitantly. Naruto walked briskly to the ninja section and looked around. Mostly the same stuff most Ninja wore, but a few different things as well. Naruto quickly picked out a few items and went to try them on. Finding they fit fine he was about to put on his ruined clothes when he got caught up in the mirror. Looking at himself firmly, he saw his red slitted eyes, his slightly pointed ears, his longer than normal canines, his previously golden hair now a more strawberry blonde.
"I may be a monster, but I'm a Ninja now too. I will become Hokage, and I will protect this village from further harm. I made a mistake twelve years ago, now I must fix it."
XXXXXXX
Drip. Drip. Drip.
"What? Where am I?" Naruto asked, hearing his voice echo off of the walls. Naruto looked around to find he was sitting in knee deep water, but he didn't feel wet or uncomfortable. Not knowing what else to do, Naruto picked himself up and began stumbling down the long hallway that looked vaguely like a sewer. Coming up onto a large room, Naruto saw a large cage with a tag in place for a lock with the kanji for seal written on it.
"Hello?" Naruto called out. Two, large, red slitted eyes opened to see Naruto, which caused a large demonic smirk to appear.
"So it seems that the little one has graced me with his presence." The face said mockingly, "What is it Kit?"
"You-you're the Kyuubi, aren't you?" Naruto asked, slightly afraid. The face just nodded.
"Are you, really, me?" Naruto asked. The Kyuubi was confused for a second, but then a recent memory of his hopeless container surfaced. The blue haired man, revealing him in an incorrect manner, causing confusion in the small human. Kyuubi was about to speak and tell the boy off when an idea struck him. It might get him out. At the very least it might make his container not so embarrassingly weak.
"So, you finally woke up huh?" Kyuubi said. Naruto turned white and stumbled as his worst fear was realized. No, Ichiraku didn't close down; he was confirmed to be a demon. The Kyuubi concentrated and formed a smaller body, outside of his own. Out through the bars walked Naruto, or, at least it looked a little like him. This Naruto had red hair to match his eyes and wore an orange fur jacket with jeans. Naruto never thought he'd see a demon lord in civilian clothes, much less human form.
"As we are both Kyuubi, you may call me Kurama." The Naruto look alike said with a confident smile.
Naruto looked at him and then at himself, or, his reflection in the water. "Alright Kurama, so you're, we're, the Kyuubi. What now?"
"Now? Now, you get stronger." Kurama said. Naruto cocked his head in question.
"Train kit. You must make your body strong enough to withstand our chakra, our demonic chakra that is. When you are strong enough, we will tear off the seal and merge into our original form. Until then, train, accomplish your goals, enjoy being human because it's not forever. As it is right now, however, let's rip off a corner."
"Why?" Naruto asked.
"It will increase your senses, as well as increase your chakra capacity with some of my chakra becoming a part of you."
Naruto nodded and walked up to the cage. The seal lowered itself to his height upon his approach. Taking it into his hands, Naruto ripped a corner off. Instantly he felt dizzy.
"Don't worry it will pass. Now when you wake up, this is what I want you to do. Ask the ANBU guarding us for some books. I want you to memorize everything about these books, okay?"
Naruto nodded as his body began to fade.
"Don't worry; you'll see me again soon." Kurama said encouragingly.
XXXXXXX
Tying his headband around his neck, Naruto went and picked out an orange hoodie, black undershirt, and blue jeans to wear out. Paying for it all, Naruto brought all of his clothes with him in one large bag.
Next he went to a ninja weapon shop. He expected to have a repeat of the previous shop but was surprised to see a girl, just a year older than him, sitting behind the counter. She had dark brown hair pulled into two buns and a pink blouse. It took her a moment before she noticed Naruto but then she smiled and dipped her head politely. Welcome to Shinken weapons and cutlery. The kitchen knives are over there and the hunting knives are in that section. If you want, you may browse the Ninja section but be careful, they are really dangerous.
Naruto smiled, and then began chuckling. The girl looked confused.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I actually just graduated the academy. Naruto said, pointing out his headband on his neck. The girl's eyes widened before she smiled.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see it. Welcome to the force, the names Tenten. So I'm guessing you were looking for some kind of weapon then? What did you have in mind?"
Naruto continued smiling. This girl knew his language and new it well. "Well, I wanted to get some Kunai and Shuriken, maybe some Ninja wire and that's, about…" Naruto trailed off as he saw the most beautiful thing ever. It was a Katana, as long as he was tall, with a dark blue sheath, with a mahogany handle, and a royal blue grip. Stumbling over to it, Naruto picked up the blade and unsheathed it. It was a long silver blade with golden swirls inlaid into it. "This!" Naruto said forcefully.
Tenten looked at him with a pitying expression, "I can't sell you that blade."
Naruto turned to her with a look of desperation. "Why not?"
"It's already been bought; we're just waiting for the buyer to pick it up."
Naruto set a look of determination in his eyes. If he couldn't have this blade, then he'd get an even better blade. But for that, then he'd have to learn Kenjutsu. "Alright, I've decided to pursue Kenjutsu. Could you recommend a sword?"
"Well, those swords are of decent quality and are relatively cheap, try one of those."
"Great." Naruto was at the barrel she had motioned to, with all the swords in it, in a second. His eyes were instantly drawn to one sword in particular. It had an oak handle with orange grip. Its hand guard was red and looked exactly like the swirl on all the Ninja uniforms. Taking the sword out of the barrel, Naruto saw the sheath was a dark orange color as well. Unsheathing slightly, Naruto saw the blade was black as pitch. "This one." Naruto muttered.
"Excellent, so that's two dozen Kunai, two dozen Shuriken, two rolls of ninja wire and one Katana. I'll tell you what; I'll even through in a basic Katana scroll for a fellow weapon user." Tenten said with a wink. Naruto smiled. It was a strange or frightening sight, depending on your point of view. Naruto, dressed as a civilian, wearing an orange and red colored katana as long as he was. Walking home with a few scrolls strapped to his side. It had cost a little extra but he had bought a couple sealing scrolls, each capable of holding a coupled dozen items, or groups of items depending on size. She had even shown him how to use them. Over all, this had been a good day for Naruto, now off to his new…
…Iruka's apartment.
XXXXXXX
It was hard for Naruto to sleep. After sleeping on a bench with no blanket for a month, Iruka's soft bed was a little weird. But it happened eventually. And when he woke up, that was slow as well. The first thing Naruto noticed was a sort of tapping noise. Groggily, Naruto walked over to the window, where a messenger hawk was pecking at the window. Opening it, Naruto took the scroll, and noted it was a white ribbon, meaning not very important, mostly just appearances and reminders. Placing the scroll on the table, Naruto decided to search the cupboards for breakfast. He had forgotten to go grocery shopping yesterday, but that wasn't a problem, he could go today. Thank you old man Hokage, his document was gonna get some good use.
Heating up some instant ramen for breakfast, Naruto read over the scroll while he ate:
Naruto Uzumaki,
As a Genin of Kanoha, the Hokage had requested your presence. Please appear for your appointment at 12:00 PM.
Glancing over at the clock, Naruto noted that he had an hour. Finishing his ramen, Naruto got up and went to take a shower when he heard the door open. Walking out into the main room, Naruto came face to face with a very pretty looking civilian girl. She had black hair, put into a braid and draped over her left shoulder. Blue eyes, very similar to his, you know, before the incident. She was about as tall as he used to be, he had grown a little from the demonic chakra. She was about 4'7" while Naruto came up to about 5'2". She was surprisingly cute when her cheeks puffed up in anger like that. Wait… anger? Uh oh.
Her cheeks puffed out and her face turned red. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you know whose house this is? How do you sleep at night when you invade dead men's homes?" She yelled. The invading dead men's homes got to Naruto. He suddenly didn't feel very amused.
Glaring at her coldly, which he was happy to report made her falter for a moment, Naruto said, "One, I was going to take a shower when I was so rudely interrupted. Two, I live here as of yesterday when the Hokage granted me this apartment. And three, I sleep on the right side of the bed, like a baby! Now I don't know who the hell you are! But if you don't get out of my house this instant, Ill invoke the Ninja right of protection from invasion and remove you from the premises myself. Brutally I might add."
The girl seemed to freeze as Naruto shoved his way past her and made toward the bathroom. She snapped out of her shock and shouted, "Wait! The Hokage gave this apartment to you? Why?"
Naruto stopped at the bathroom door, his back facing her. "Maybe," He said, clenching the door frame, "It had something to do with how I killed Iruka-sensei's murderer." With that he left her alone.
XXXXXXX
When Naruto exited the bathroom, the girl was nowhere to be seen, but the plants on Iruka's window sill seemed freshly watered. Naruto snorted at the idea of the girl. Another villager wants a piece out of the demon, no thanks. Naruto saw that he only had fifteen minutes left before his appointment. Throwing on his relatively clean civilian clothes, he stopped at the door, grabbing his Katana at the last second before rushing out. I may not know how to use it yet, but maybe it will deter the civilians from doing something overly stupid. Then again, who knows? Naruto locked his door and began to briskly walk to the Hokage tower. The glares didn't even bother him today.
XXXXXXX
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
"Hello Hokage–sama, you summoned me?" Naruto said with a bow as he entered the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi just waved him off. "Naruto, please sit, and drop the formalities. I just wanted to inform you about a few things I failed to last night."
Naruto sat on the couch and, made himself comfortable, "All right old man, shoot."
Sarutobi cleared his throat as he took a look at the clothes Naruto was wearing. Surprisingly, he noted, he barely noticed the red slitted eyes if he looked at him as a whole. But as soon as he looked at his face, they stood out like they glowed in the dark, and for all Sarutobi knew, they did. "Well, I'd first like to say, the civilian look suits you Naruto."
Naruto laughed, "Well don't get used to it old man, this is just for my days off. Notice that I'm still wearing the headband around my neck, lending proof that I am never, under any circumstances, under the control of the civilian council."
"Well that's very clever of you. Also, I'd like to inform you that I've set the Genin team formations and they're to be announced tomorrow at the academy. Be at room one-o-two at nine O'clock to meet your team and sensei." Naruto nodded. It was this time when Sarutobi finally noticed the Katana. Shit, if he'd been somebody out to kill me, I'd be dead! "N-Naruto, why do you have that sword with you?"
Naruto looked surprised for a moment, like he'd forgotten about the blade himself, "Oh that? I've decided to specialize in Kenjutsu as well as Ninjutsu. I figured that with my massive chakra coils, I could fire off a couple Jutsu as well as apply chakra to my arms and legs without much strain."
Sarutobi nodded at his logic but felt the need to pop his bubble. "Naruto, I'd be hard-pressed to do all that at once. And while you may have Jonin level reserves, that are still growing I might add, but you might run into some trouble there, especially with your horrid chakra control, no offense."
Naruto smiled, "None taken and thanks for the advice, I didn't expect it to come easy. It'll be a lot of hard work but if my reserves get big enough, and I can improve my control, then I just might pull it off."
"I'm sure you will Naruto." Sarutobi chuckled, "And while you're at it, keep working on taking this hat from me, I'm not stepping down till you do."
Naruto grinned toothily, "You can bet your wrinkly ass on it old man!"
"That's all I needed to inform you about today, so if theirs is nothing you need…"
"Thanks gramps, I'll get out of your hair."
At that moment, the door creaked slightly as an annoying looking boy in a ridiculously long scarf came bursting into the room holding a kunai. Acting as any Ninja would, Naruto launched a kunai of his own at the boy, pinning him to the wall by his scarf. Damn, my aim was way off. That should have speared any attacker though the heart. Naruto walked calmly over to the boy, lifted him off the ground to loosen up the scarf where the knife pierced it and pulled it out.
"What the hell you idiot! You ruined my ambush!" yelled the boy.
"Konohamaru, that's the fourth attempt on my life this month." Sarutobi whined playfully.
Naruto brought the kid up to his eye level, "Listen Brat. Next time you attack any leader, you must be ready and willing to take on any and all subordinates he may or may not have, namely, me, the ANBU in the corner, and every other ninja in this village. And next time, try using a real kunai, because that wooden one you have isn't ever gonna help you much." Konohamaru was visibly quaking in anger.
"Hokage-sama!" yelled a voice that just oozed with self-righteousness and false superiority. A man, who only stood out because his overly average and completely uninteresting appearance burst into the room in a very rude, not to mention very un-Ninja like manner. The bandana wearing man instantly spotted Naruto holding Konohamaru by the collar with a kunai in his right hand. "You! What do you think you are doing to the honorable grandson?" He yelled.
Konohamaru smirked at Ebisu's helpful entrance. "What are you gonna do now smart aleck? Better put me down and kiss my butt before gramps gets mad."
Naruto got even more pissed off, "I don't care if Kami is your father, Brat, your ass will get nothing but a swift kick from me!" He brought the blunt end of the kunai down on Konohamaru's cranium. Turning in a huff, Naruto opened one of the windows and jumped out.
Ebisu led Konohamaru out of the room quickly. "You mustn't socialize with trash like that one, Konohamaru, I'll help you become Hokage with every shortcut and quick power up I can get you."
Sarutobi sighed as he heard Ebisu through his wall. Normally he'd be angry over the way he was so blatantly treating Naruto, but mostly, he was sad that the standards for Jonin had fallen so low. He was supposed to be an elite, but he was louder than Naruto used to be and spoke only of shortcuts to power, as if such things actually existed. He could almost read his grandsons mind as well. Who was that guy?
XXXXXXX
Naruto was frustrated and was looking forward to releasing some of that frustration on a few unsuspecting practice dummies, but he remembered one of his errands he had to run today. Ugh, grocery shopping.
Pulling out the document from the Hokage when the manager attempted to get in his way, Naruto managed to get them to allow him to shop there. He grabbed a cart and began walking through the store grabbing items off the shelves whenever he saw something good. Suddenly a turkey got up and kicked another. Out of nowhere, three turkey's had knives in their wings and were running at Naruto in a very ninja like manor.
"KAI" he said as his hands slipped into the proper seal. A small burst of chakra ruined the pitifully obvious genjutsu revealing the center turkey to actually be Konohamaru with his wooden kunai. Sticking his foot out, Naruto caught the charging ninja wannabe in the face. "What do you want brat?"
"Oh, you're good, perfect for my new teacher."
"Teacher," Naruto said thinking it over, "forget it, why would I want a brat for my student?"
"But…"
"No."
"I…"
"No"
"Come on!" Konohamaru whined.
"I will not repeat myself again, so get…"
"Honorable grandson! What are you doing with that piece of trash?" A very familiar and annoying voice rang out. Naruto growled quietly as Ebisu stalked up to them and pushed Konohamaru behind him. He "Valiantly" stared into the red slitted eyes of the twelve year old "demon". "Stop attempting to taint the honorable grandson, you monster, he will not become your dark pupil!"
Naruto was different than he used to be, but one thing that didn't change, he got mad and even. "Hey kid."
"Yeah?" Konohamaru asked from behind Ebisu.
Naruto smirked at Ebisu in victory, "You got yourself a teacher."
"Yahoo!"
"Now come on my "Dark Pupil"." Naruto said, his toothy smirk widening at the look on Ebisu's face. Priceless.
"Yes sir!"
And that was the image Naruto had in his head as he finished his grocery shopping with Konohamaru, being as helpful as he could for his new teacher.
XXXXXXX
Walking up to his new apartment, Naruto noticed the girl from earlier walking towards him. He ignored her but Konohamaru didn't. "Hey boss, who's that lady?" he asked.
"Just a neighbor." Naruto said in a tone that said don't push it.
"She's coming this way."
"I noticed."
"You gonna talk to her, Boss?"
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Watch." Naruto said as he dug the keys to his apartment out of his pocket.
"Um, Naruto-san?"
Naruto turned to look at the girl as if he had only just now noticed her. "Yes… sorry, I never got your name. In fact, I never gave my name either."
"Er, yes well, you see, my grandmother is the landlord so I got your name from the lease, which I noticed, had been transferred to you. So I'd like to apologize for my earlier intrusion. You see, I have been watering Iruka-san's plants every day since I was little and kept it up after he, well, you know."
"Kicked the bucket?" asked Naruto playfully. Yes, it stung on the inside a little, but she didn't need to know that.
She seemed uncomfortable, but nodded. "Also, I'd like to cook dinner for you tonight, if you don't mind, so I can apologize properly."
"That's pretty old fashioned." Naruto remarked.
The girl blushed, "My grandmother always taught me that the best way to win a man's favor was to feed him, I assumed it would work for forgiveness as well."
"To my heart through my stomach heh? Yeah you summed me up pretty well. All right, come on in."
"Thank you Naruto-san, my name is Mai Ochitsuka, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, oh, and drop the formalities, I'm nobody special."
Mai smiled, "Okay Naruto."
XXXXXXX
While Mai was inside, making dinner while Naruto and Konohamaru were in the backyard where Naruto found Iruka had set up a small training area. There was a sparring ring about thirty-six feet in diameter, a small cluster of wooden poles with rope tied around them, and a small tree. Don't ask what the tree was for, Naruto wasn't privy to that information.
Alright Konohamaru, let's see what you know already." Naruto said with an encouraging smile he ripped off of Kurama. Hey, my face, my expression.
Konohamaru nodded and screwed his face in thought. "I know Henge, Clone Jutsu, and a basic genjutsu that is easily adapted to the environment. I'm also working on Kawarimi." The boy said, hoping to impress his new teacher.
"When do you start the academy?"
"Next year."
"Damn clan heirs, getting all the attention." Naruto grumbled, "Anyways, show me your Henge."
"You got it boss! Henge!" Konohamaru yelled. Naruto winced slightly at the loudness, for some reason it hurt his ears. He let it go though, he was a kid after all.
Konohamaru turned into Naruto, sort of. The hair was the right shape, but ended up the wrong color. His eyes seemed to be stuck shut they were so squinty. His whisker mars were on his forehead and his nose was way too big.
Naruto sighed, "Brownie points are lost when you make me look like I went through the meat shredder."
"Aw man."
"Keep up the Henge for five minutes."
"You got it!" POOF
"You couldn't keep it up for one minute." Naruto said in a monotone voice. Konohamaru was out of breath. Naruto sighed again. "You're technique could use some work, and you have pitiful chakra coils. The only ninja with less chakra than you is Sakura."
Konohamaru visibly deflated and he sniffled. Naruto sighed a third time. I hope that doesn't become a habit. "Come on now." Naruto said, placing his hands on Konohamaru's shoulders, "You can't become sad at criticism. I'm not insulting you; I'm trying to make you better."
"But Ebisu-sensei always says I do everything perfect and anyone who says different are just being ugly."
Naruto growled audibly. "First rule of being my pupil, Always work hard to become better and achieve your goals. Second rule, forget everything that sorry excuse for a teacher has ever told you. Understand?"
Konohamaru nodded.
"Good. There is a difference between being mean and criticizing. When I criticize you, I tell you what you're doing wrong and then help you correct it, or I let you do it yourself. When someone is just being mean, they'll tell you to give up, that you will never amount to anything. Do you know what you say when someone tells you that?"
Konohamaru shakes his head no.
"You tell them," Naruto stated while smiling like an idiot, "to stand back and watch. They better be hungry to because anyone who insults my pupil will eat those words."
Konohamaru looked at Naruto with stars in his eyes. Naruto look at the sky and saw the sun going down. "I think it's time for dinner don't you?"
Konohamaru nodded frantically. Naruto sighed again. Dammit! It is becoming a habit! They walked in to find Mai staring at the door in a daze. "Um, Mai?"
"Huh? Oh Naruto, I was just coming to tell you dinner is ready." Mai said with a blush rising to her face.
"Thanks Mai. It means…a lot…to…Holy Crap!" Naruto exclaimed.
"What? Is something wrong?" Mai asked, frightened she had upset the strawberry blonde.
"I've never seen so much good food!" Naruto yelled before diving for one of the pillows next to the table. Apparently Iruka like old fashioned dining for company because Naruto could see a closet he didn't notice before, slightly open, revealing the table Naruto had used for breakfast to be a fold up.
"ITADAKIMASU!" Naruto and Konohamaru yelled at the same time before snapping their chopsticks apart and digging in like they were starving. Mai giggled to herself. Most would find the boys eating habits repulsive, but she took it as a compliment. She'd never cooked for somebody else before so she was worried they wouldn't like it, but that was all gone now. She laughed and joined them, eating much slower and quieter than the other two, of course.
XXXXXXX
Mai watched as Naruto said his goodbyes to Konohamaru.
"I won't be here tomorrow so I want you to go to the library and pick up chakra capacity exercises and meet me here the day after tomorrow at three. And while you're at it, pick me up some chakra control exercises; I need to work on that myself."
"You got it Boss!" Konohamaru yelled before running home.
Naruto walked back to Mai and motioned toward her home as he began to walk.
"He really looks up to you. You know that right?"
"Yeah," Naruto said, resting his hands behind his head, his extra-large canines on display for the world to see with his stupid smile, "don't know what I did to deserve it though."
"What do you mean? I thought that you two knew each other already."
"Nah, met him today actually, pinned the brat to a wall with a kunai." Naruto said wistfully.
"W-wha…"
"And before you freak out, he was about to attack his grandpa, the Hokage."
"W-wait. That was the honorable grandson?"
"Yeah. So?"
"I didn't bow; I didn't make sure his needs were catered to. Oh kami, I treated him like…"
"Like everybody else?" Naruto asked knowingly. "That's why he likes you so much. You know what I did when I unstuck him from the wall? I punched the kid for thinking he was above me. I think that's why he likes me; I don't treat him like he's someone special. To me, he's just a brat."
"So how did he become your student then?"
Naruto shrugged, "It sort of just happened." By this time they had reached Mai's house, which was just around the corner from Naruto's new apartment. "Thanks again for the meal Mai. I'll see you around."
"Wait!" Mai called. Naruto paused and turned. "You said you killed Iruka-san's murderer. Who was it?"
Naruto's half smile disappeared. His eyes glowed, and Mai found herself wondering why she never notice the slitted crimson orbs. "Mizuki." Naruto growled.
Mai was taken aback; she had met Mizuki, a number of times. He had been nothing but nice to her, she had even had a little crush on him when she was smaller. Her heart broke just a little but she hid her pain from Naruto. "How did Mizuki die?"
"Too easily." Naruto's growl was almost demonic and she could swear the temperature dropped ten degrees. But, for some reason, she felt the anger wasn't directed towards her, she didn't have to be afraid of the boy turned monster.
'I… understand. Thank you." With that, she turned and went inside.
Naruto turned and went home. His good mood now soured. It wasn't her fault, hell, he'd want to know as well. Still, just the thought of that night reminded him that he wasn't human, not really, it reminded him that twelve years ago, he had single handedly destroyed most of Konoha, and killed the fourth Hokage. Still, Mai didn't seem to be afraid of him, and he was able act more like his old self around her and Konohamaru. He liked them. But that would end tomorrow.
Naruto's first rule was to never give up and succeed, no matter the cost.
Naruto's second rule was to never sacrifice friends, even if it means breaking rule number one.
Naruto's third rule, and the newest, When on duty or around fellow ninja, always keep in mind, that he is a monster. Show no emotion. Kill the enemy. Protect the pack.
Tomorrow begins my days as a ninja of Konoha. Naruto got a steely look in his eyes as he locked up and went to bed. Make sure they never forget the day they thought Naruto Uzumaki was down and out. Cause I won't forget, ever.
Naruto removed his headband as he laid down, taking a second to look at it. It was old and beat up, but it was his. Clenching it in his right hand Naruto felt the need to cry, but no tears came.
"Iruka-sensei," Naruto muttered through the lump in his throat, "I'll make you proud."
XXXXXXX
Kurama was looking at his body from outside the cage. He had already attempted to remove the seal himself, but was unable to tough it. It had to be Naruto. So he had decided to watch through naruto's eyes. He chuckled to himself darkly.
"Let the games begin."
A/N: Okay, this chapter was just a little bit longer than normal to make up for the lack of words in the last one. remember, originally supposed to be a oneshot. now to respond to my awesome reviewers:
Guest: Dont know who you are, but dont worry. not an evil naru fic, just a fic where naruto is tricked by kyuubi to think he's a demon (obviously). Think of it more as a grey naruto fic, he's darker but can almost go back to his old personalities other times.
Kuroeli: While this is true in our sense of reality, if, say, all military people could fly, they wouldn't ALL be superheros. they'd just be military guys. but if one could fly, shoot laser beams, and have super strength, then he'd be a superhero, even amoung the superpowered. make sense?
MZR90: Thank you, for your review, but mostly to your loyalty, just thanks for reading my work, you rock man(or woman not sure :D)
Next chapter- Teams and their tests.
Oh, little side note.
Shinken- Means earnest, as a referance to how earnest Tenten is to be great. funny thing is, if you put the hiragana symbol for no between the two kanji making up the word Shinken, it will spell Kami no ken, meaning divine sword.
Ochitsuka- Means calm. Thats a joke on how I introduced her :P