Sorry for the delay. Well. I did say updates will be sporadic... Expect the next one sooner, I now have someone to kick me in the but and speed things along. Just a small warning, This chapter includes the first 'fight seen' of the fic. I will also state this is a 'supernaruto' fic... well technically... though the growth to power isn't so much important in this fic as the nature of the relationships and controlling said power. Expect violence, expect gore, expect general dark crap. Well enough of this, On with the Show.

Awakening.

The academy. It was... different. In ways better. The beatings had died down. In others... the stares were still there. No fear... well with a few exceptions. They didn't know. While the fact that he had struck back for once... the fact he had taken a life had spread deep into the population of Kohona. Fortunately, the old man had once again disallowed the knowledge to be spread. Of course he didn't know about the first law, but he knew this one. He could use the power now as well. It took no real effort, just let the anger deep inside him flare for a moment. Just one moment. ANBU had shown up each time, the first few times they had almost struck, but had stopped. Most children didn't know, of those that did, few believed. Those that did believe... they feared. And they were right to fear. He had killed... and now that he had taken a life he knew he could do it again... he didn't want to. But he could. The rest mocked him, it pissed him off... he almost wanted to call on his power right in the middle of class, to just let it lose and let them see what they were mocking.

He didn't.

It wasn't out of any sort of humbleness. Anyone could tell you he wasn't humble. For all the demeaning words they sent him Naruto still had a good sense of self. He was stronger then all of them, and bragged about it, especially when they threatened him. It was kind of odd how a moment of such terror had brought him such peace, even if it was a bitter one.

No the fact was he was he was freaking sick of the fear. He was sick of the hate. It wreaked. His only option was to gain there respect. And while showing off his power would get them to shut up it would drive any hope of getting That from them even further away. So he waited. He did the stupid tests, he did the drills, and generally goofed off in class. In the end it didn't mater. Once he got on a dream he'd show them all that he was worth there respect... that he could do more then just destroy.

"Uzumaki Naruto!" Iruka called out.

He was snapped out of his thought, and walked down. 'Alright Test time... I can do this.'

Iruka was a kind man... At first, he was like the rest. He haded him, he could tell that... but over the years, it had changed, the hated died away, and something... akin to loyalty grew. It had always confused him slightly at how he would use the one jutsu he had yet to learn. He could swap with the best of them, and his transformation was better then anyone else in the class... after all he was the only one to manage to change his sent as well as form. He also didn't need handseals... actually he never needed them. He used them of course. He didn't need them, but saw no need to advertise that. No need to show them he was different... not yet.

"Two clones Naruto... this is your last chance." he had a grim look to him at that.

Last chance... the words echoed though his mind. He nodded "Don't worry Iruka Sensei!" last chance... He couldn't do it, he had tried and tried and tried. The only time he had ever gotten it right was...

Iruka frowned Naruto hadn't even formed the basic chakra focusing seal.

"Two clones..." Naruto muttered. The world faded from his vision. It would end everything he had built for the last few years. But to pass... his only chance. 'I'm sorry sensei...' his eyes silted, as the class suddenly halted in it's track. Red flickers of visible energy flicked off his skin as his whisker marks darkened, fingernails became claws, and teeth became fangs. He clacked his fingers he pressed two to his forehead, a pare of solid identical clones forming at his sides. "Will these do sensei?" his voice was darker, deeper, and bore a growling resonance.

The student's behind him terrified from the raw predatory aura around him. Of the shear bloodlust. In front of him Iruka and Mizuki showed nothing but raw terror. 'Monster...' they mouthed.

'NO!' At once his world came back into focus. And the world around him flashed back to reality. He nodded his eyes gleamed red for a second, remaining slightly silted as nine clones popped into existence... an ominous sine, but not anything to really suggest he had reverted nature. Still for a moment everyone felt it. Not in the class room, no, everyone in the village even beyond felt a sudden chill run though them.

Shaking off the feeling Iruka nodded with a smile. "You Pass Naruto!"

The now official shinobi grinned widely. "Yah! I knew I'd make it!" he cheered again so loudly, he was certain that everyone in the class now knew he had graduated. Taking the offered forehead protector and tightly securing it to his own brow.

He raced out of the room to show his classmates missing the flicker of discontent along Mizuki's face.

Most of the students were open in disbelief The dead last had passed? How hard was this test if even the infamous drop out managed it?

The rest of the students made it though, a few failing, most succeeding in there goal. Naruto felt a pang of sorrow for those that had failed. But shook it off knowing that they could always try again next year. After all this was his own third attempt.

He grinned as he disappointed to the rooftops heading to Ichiraku's at a excited pace. Not full out of course, there was no need to do so.

At once he felt it, chakra approaching at high speed, radiating... killing intent? No, annoyance. A life time of haterid had honed his senses for such things to a razor point. He turned and faced... Mizuki sensei?

"Naruto!" he said cheerfully and a little out of breath "Boy your fast when you want to be. I just remembered that you stay alone. You see for each graduate theres a sort of final exam. I mean knowing the basic techniques is handy and all, but we can't really send out anyone that doesn't know how to actually Use them in a fight. Everyone else has already reserved a message on there 'mission' and I figured it'd be best to deliver this one myself. Now remember, treat this as a real mission Naruto, if you can't complete it you'll have to repeat the year."

Blinking Naruto nodded before grinning "So I get to prove myself?" he nearly jumped for joy finally practical work, something he could actually thrive at.

-----

It was shortly after this that Iruka discovered Naruto poring over the scroll of seals with a frown of concentration. "Naruto!" he barked

Naruto glanced back "Oh Iruka! Hey sorry about looking inside I was just curious... I still pass the practical exam right?"

Iruka frowned "Practical exam?"

Naruto grinned his trademark foxy grin and nodded "Yah the 'steal the scroll' faux mission... you know... the one Mizuki gave me?" at he lack of recondition and growing dread on his favorite teachers face his own smile died away switching to a confused frown.

Iruka's eyes shot opened as he heard this 'Mizuki sent Naruto to do this? But why? Unless...' his train of thought was violently disrupted by an reproaching shuriken. He dodged to the side getting a graze to his arm for the trouble. 'That was no ordinary shuriken. The only man I know that uses that kind of projectile is!'

Standing in a tree near by was Mizuki wearing a rather snake like grin to his face "Good work Naruto... The final part of your mission is to defeat Iruka there!" he said it so sarcastically the young blond immediately knew something was up.

"Mizuki Sensei! What's going on?" he looked between his two teachers still confused, a feeling of dread building in him.

Iruka fell into a defensive crouch one hand swaying to his own weapon pouch "So... you used Naruto as a scape goat to steal the scroll of forbidden seals... Why!?" his eyes flickered with anger and betrayal.

Naruto's eyes widened in shock, was that true? Mizuki had always being nice to him! Sure he never did anything for him like Iruka had but he always smiled, always acknowledged him. It couldn't be true!

Mizuki only laughed "This village is why! Kohona has grown week! So much so it will even allow a demon in it's midst!" he glared harshly at Naruto, a wicked grin on his face "Or didn't you know why you are so hated? It wouldn't surprise me. For the lord of all demons you certainly are an idiot!"

"Your damning yourself Mizuki." Iruka warned "You know it is forbidden to speak of it!"

A sneer was his only reply "And why should I care about the laws of this village? I am sick of this village! I was the greatest projectile specialist of my year! And look at what they have done to me. Academy instructor. What a laugh! They take me off the field once I graduate and set me to teach snot nosed Punks how to throw kunai strait. The final insult was Him." he pointed to Naruto. "But that's all over... With the scroll I'll become stronger then any pathetic Leaf Nin. Don't you see Iruka? All this Kohona dose is rob people of strength! It stole my chance at fame, cut down the Uchiha two a spoiled brat and a psychopath, and even reduced the greatest of all demons to a cheep imitation of it's 'great savior'." he looked at Naruto "Haven't you ever wondered about your seal? Why your chakra terrifies everyone so much? Your a demon Naruto. The same demon that attacked this village twelve years ago! You are the Kyuubi no Kitsune!"

Naruto was shocked in place... he had always suspected something... he knew he was different, even guessed he might be a demon, but to be the Kyuubi itself? The worst he had ever imagined was it's child and even being related to the beast wasn't a flicker to being the demon itself... the seal... it must have binded him, swollen his memory's... bound his power... but why? Why not kill him?

The throwing star specialist continued "Now come on! You want the power they stole from you to don't you? Everyone hates you here! Even Iruka! You killed his parents you know. He complained worse then I ever did when you first joined the class."

Naruto stepped back as if physically struck. Looking to Iruka for conformation. A bowed head was his only answer... 'No!'

Naruto started shaking his head. This wasn't true. It couldn't be true!

Seeing his pawn freeze up the silver haired traitor frowned. If the kid wouldn't side with him then he was useless. "Fine. If all you can do now is hide then be a good fox and die!" with that he drew forth and released one oversized throwing stars at a direct path for Naruto's face.

Naruto's eyes flared up at it and a flicker of Yoki flared over him, before images of the man flashed again. The shuriken becoming a kitchen knife, Mizuki that desperate mad man 'NO!' he screamed as he did what he had threatened to the entire encounter and froze up completely. Eyes shutting tight, he wouldn't kill again! He couldn't kill again! He wouldn't become a monster!

Thump! Splash!

Warmth... drips of warm liquid, already hardening fell onto his face, a terrible sticky slickness and sent of copper... it was blood. He knew it all to well... but no pain? His eyes opened and he saw Iruka crouched over him. The throwing blade embedded in his back, his Chuunin flak vest the only thing saving his life. His eyes widened further. "Why?" he asked, barely a whisper.

Iruka smiled warmly, though his eyes flickered with pain, the wound was debilitating, he didn't know how damaging it was. All he knew was Iruka was suffering, and it was his fault again. More blood not his own, shed to preserve his life. One that had proven far from valuable to his mind "Because... You are Naruto, Genin of the leaf, first and foremost... and even more importantly, you are my friend... no matter were you come form."

"Iruka sensei..." Naruto's eyes welled, he did care... even if he was a demon, someone still cared. His thoughts broken by a harsh laugh.

"Isn't that rich! He sacrifices himself to save his parent's murderer. Well it looks like you managed to wipe out the entire family Kyuubi." he laughed again. "And the funniest thing is, it's pointless... your useless, as week as us mortals now. No not even. You can't even fight like a human. Your nothing but a sack of flesh waiting to be cut down. I could kill you with one well placed punch... how the mighty have fallen." he stopped suddenly. "To think I used to admire you." his sneer was there for only a moment before it faded... something wasn't right. A flicker...

The world dimmed.

The wind halted.

Then everything seemed to explode.

Naruto... no, what was standing there was not Naruto, not entirely. It wasn't even human. Red slitted eyes burned with unnatural hate, raw killing intent so malevolent Mizuki found he couldn't move, couldn't even breath, his heart seemed torn between stopping out of terror or bursting out of panic and though it all mind numbing pain seized though him as he realized that his arm had just being ripped down it's length by a set of claws harder then even chakra reinforced steel, leavening not but gory taters hanging lamely from a stump. Severed bones actually falling out of the bloody mess. He didn't even see the kid move.

He opened his mouth to scream.

He didn't get the chance. Fire exploded into his leg as Naruto's other clawed hand tore into his thigh, faster then even an experienced eye could track. The raw power of the blow tearing the Chuunin missing nin from his roost and sending him swinging. The kinetic force from the blow dragged the yoki shrouded arm though his leg as if it was wet tissue paper. The demonic energy infecting and obliterating his chakra paths on contact. Mizuki had never felt such pain, such agony. It was as if his soul itself was being burn out of him, blood flowing out of the tattered arm as he was sung around a half arch before the inevitable happen.

The red clouded beast's claw finally passed though the now ruined limb, tearing out of his foot and leavening charred shredded remains. Mizuki would bleed out of such wounds.

He wasn't that lucky.

The helpless traitor was set flying. Mizuki's terror ravaged mind barely managed to process the fact that he was getting away from this horrible monster when something filled him with even greater dread... He was caught. Eight neat little claw tips stabbing out of his shoulders the thumbs to short to pierce though entirely. The flesh already blackening as the destructive energy went to work. Each claw had impaled effortlessly though his shoulders, wenching the bones out of there joints. As they were finally caught in his palm. He looked up and into the hate filled eyes of his tormentor. Demonic eyes, fangs bared, the faint slits converted to tattoo like markings and ears tapering to blade like points... a demon.

He could feel his body burning, being ripped apart on a cellular level from merely being this close to the humanoid fiend, the unending killing intent destroying his mind as nerve cells literally imploded under the endless strain until all he could comprehend was pain and terror, the last remaining sentient thought being that the hell he was going to would be such a wonderful mercy.

Naruto roared. It was inhuman, bestial, demonic, verbalizing the rage still clouding over his mind. this traitor who would Dare hurt his precious person. He would try to kill him? He would suffer before he died. One clawed hand ripped it's way out of his shoulder and with a painfully slow exertion of strength, began squeezing. Nails biting into flesh, aura cooking away tissue. Mizuki managed one last pain filled scream before his skull gave way and blood gray mater and bone fragments exploded outwards , hitting the ground sizzling. His destructive aura reducing the body to a withered husk.

Mind clearing slightly he turned back to Iruka. The man staring at him with a look of abstract horror. "No one... No one hurt my friends... no one..." he growled out, before his features slowly reverted to there normal nature and he passed out.

Iruka sat there mute. A friend dead after betrayal, a brother asleep after awakening to his darkest nature... and himself, stunned to silence.

Nothing would ever be the same.

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Not to bad... not up to my normal standers in my opinion, but not to bad. Once more advice is welcome. If you feel like reviewing do so, but I won't bother asking for any. I am one of those authors that reads every last one and considers requests made, but just cause you write an idea down doesn't mean I will add it to the fic. These Crimson Eyes is NOT ABANDONED... it's in a hiatus. I will revive it some time soon when I start getting sharingan happy again.

As a side note. I will allow anyone who wants to and provides proper notice and a link to the original, to ether distribute any of my fics or to write up there own variation. Hell just continue from were I left off or write an omake file if you like. I'll even add it to my favorites if you link me.

As a secondary side note. I have no clue how the PM system of works. No real desire to learn, and thats about it. You want to talk to me? My email is open access, I check it about once every two weeks.