Inoichi had overslept, causing them to run the remaining distance to the Academy. It wouldn't have been so bad if the two first years didn't have a test of their knowledge of the First Great Ninja War, while Minato was late for the taijutsu warm ups and was punished with more rounds around the training ground. He was really not in the mood for that, having slept next to nothing that night and trained for hours. When lunch came around, his energy level was dropping dangerously low, and at that moment, he started a habit he would take with him for years to come. He refilled his depleting energy with sugar.

5.

Minato lay on his back and watched the birds fly over him. He was at the top of the Academy roof; a place few would go looking for him. He wasn't hiding, no, he was doing a tactical retreat. He called it that anyhow. Inoichi would come right out and say he was hiding, and Kushina would laugh until she cried if she ever knew why he was up here in the first place. He suspected she knew, but she had never confronted him, and Inoichi had never said anything to her as far as Minato knew.

It all started when they started their new year at the Academy. It had been innocently, like all things usually are when you stumble upon them. He had been on his way to the Academy with Kushina, Inoichi and Kaero. Now, that was where his problem had started. Kaero reminded him a lot of a quieter and more docile Konohamaru. He was an adoring younger brother who looked up to him because he was 'awesome'.

While Kushina, Inoichiand he were all rather used to the Academy, it had been Kaero's first week. To get to know each other better, all the students in the class were allowed to invite one relative to their class. Kaero, since Kinuto was on a mission, had decided that while Kushina was cool and all, Minato was the better choice. He was as much a 'big brother' as Kinuto was, only not related by blood.

He had not expected to haveto do anything but follow him there and wait for his classes to start. He had not expected the teacher to give the new students a short and inspiring preach on his virtues as a prodigy in the shinobi arts, and be asked for a demonstration. He had reluctantly agreed, and thought he would get away with some simple technique used by every genin around. Kaero would have none of it, and talked him into showing off the technique he had spent most of his short vacation on learning and mastering. The only reason why he had chosen that technique was from stung pride. He had never been really good at fire techniques in his former life, and he would like to see if he could get better at them this time around. He was supposed to become Hokage, so he liked to believe he should do some fire techniques. The chosen one, Fire Release: Phoenix Immortal Techinque was chosen simply because he thought the small fireballs were cooler than one big one.

It was a testimony to his chakra control that he was able to pull it off. While most genin actually had the chakra to do C – ranked techniques, most didn't have the control needed to do it and so they wasted much of their chakra. It was the reason why you either had a decent pool of chakra and good control or large reserves if a genin was able to do them. Minato belonged in the first category.

What he hadn't anticipated, aside of the stunned looks of the parents and teachers present, was the absolute awe he filled the first years with. In the span of a few hand seals and a quick breath, he became their newest hero. From that day onwards, they had followed him wherever he went on the Academy grounds, and begged him to show them more amazing techniques. He hadn't.

The routine quickly became too tiresome to keep up with, so he developed methods to avoid them. He used to sneak up on the roof during the lunch break for a snack and a small nap, and if anyone asked, it was because he liked the view. To and from the Academy he was more or less safe and able to hide behind Kushina and Inoichi, and to some extent Kaero, even if he shielded him halfheartedly. He wanted to see more techniques too, so he would dog him during the day whenever he could as well.

This day was no different, but one of the last he would spend at the Academy. He had already taken his written test and after lunch he would have the practical test. He wondered briefly if the graduation exam would diverse from the one he remembered. Despite the war having lulled to almost nonexistent for the past year the village was still in 'war mode'. When he took his exam in the future (or something like that), it had been peace for several years. If he remembered correctly it had been peace for seven years. Now they had a situation where no one really knew where they stood.

The written test had been much the same; trap making, basic strategy, basic leadership skills in case they got separated from their sensei, history, rules and regulations and some on techniques. He was fairly sure he had aced it.

He rummaged through his pockets for a pocky and was relieved when he found one. It wasn't his favorite flavor, but banana would do in lack of strawberry. Closing his eyes to doze in the sun and eat his sweet, he hadn't expected someone else to intrude upon his solitude. He was actually a little peeved and opened one eye to regard the boy who entered the roof casually.

He was lean and slouched a little, with a pineapple shaped hairdo which immediately told Minato who the person was. He hadn't met Shikaku in this time, since he hardly spent a month in the same class. A nine year old Inoichi was following him as collected as always. He had, to his luck, grown a little more boyish over the years. He still had long blond hair, pale skin and blue eyes and a slim and lithe body, but his face was getting more like that of a boy.

Shikaku stopped in his steps when he saw him, but Inoichi grinned and waved at him.

"Told you he'd be here," the blond boy said enthusiastically. Shikaku made a noise which could be interpreted as an agreement, but he seemed more irritated with the whole situation. Minato stretched and resigned himself to a social call rather than a catnap.

"What are you doing here?" he asked with more irritation than he originally intended. Inoichi raised an eyebrow at the younger boy and a snort escaped him.

"What got you so worked up? We were just going to ask you something, no need to get your panties in a twitch."

Shikaku watched them with lazy eyes and a small glint behind that exterior which told Minato that the Nara had found him curious. Curious to a Nara was a phenomenon they didn't immediately understand, and he knew he would be subtly observed until that curiosity was sated. Shikamaru had had the same glint in his eyes after the fight with Neji, and Minato felt pretty sure Shikaku was every bit as determined at understanding him as Shikamaru had been. Peachy….

"Yeah, sorry about that. I was almost asleep. What is it you wanted?" Minato asked. He didn't mean to sound rude, but they had interrupted his sleep time, and he was grouchy whenever that happened. He still wasn't someone who jumped out of bed with all the energy of an overly exited puppy in the morning. If he could, he would haveliked nothing more than to sleep in, but two years of constantly trying to outdo himself had made him get up every morning at five to train. It worked fine as long as he napped during the day. Inoichi was aware of his habits, so he shrugged the previous offence off and grinned.

"Ask you what the exam's like. Shikaku wanted to plan ahead," he said and smirked at the brown haired boy. Minato looked stonily at him. That was so Nara. Get away with the least amount of work and do it the most efficient way. He quirked his lips.

"Nara?" he asked and Shikaku straightened from his slouched position and nodded.

"Nara Shikaku, it is nice to meet you," he greeted neutrally. How Nara to first make sure if he was someone worth keeping as a close ally and friend, one of the two or just a fellow Leaf ninja before they made any attempts on befriend their object of interest.

"Namikaze Minato," Minato said with a nod. He smiled at the Nara, and laughed a little.

"Don't worry about the test. It is easy if you read the text book. You can pass and get a great grade by doing just that. If you want to best it, you'll have to read some extra material but most of it is found in the Academy library. I'd recommend strategy, trap making and some basics on the role of a leader."

The two boys gave him weird looks, or rather Inoichi did, while Shikaku simply stared at him.

"You know, you are the only person who would bother with something like that," he commented, and Minato tilted his head to the side with a deceptively harmless smile.

"That is why I graduate a year before you, while being a year younger than you," he answered, and Shikaku rolled his eyes to the heavens as of to ask why he had to put up with them. Though, he secretly found their bickering amusing. Minato rummaged through his pockets again, but he didn't have more sweets on him and looked hopefully at Inoichi. Said boy shook his head.

"I don't eat sweets for lunch, Minato. Have you considered having a real lunch for once?"

"I brought a 'real' lunch as you call it, but I still want something to eat. Speaking of which, Kushina pestered me into agreeing for us to meat at the BBQ – shop she likes this evening to celebrate my graduation," he said and rose from his sitting position. It wasn't that much left of his free time and he wouldn't get any sleep with them there. He might as well invite them.

"Are you that sure you'll pass?" Shikaku asked intrigues. Even the best students used to fret over their exam. Inoichi snorted.

"You don't know him, so I'll let that one slip and pretend you never asked something so stupid. He knows every damn thing there is to know, and can pretty much do anything. It is a reason why he is allowed to graduate when he is only eight. He isn't human!"

Minato rubbed the back of his head awkwardly and smiled an equally uncomfortable smile.

"Uh, thanks for the vote of confidence, Inoichi, but I would rather remain human, if you don't mind. I don't plan on joining the Inuzuka kennel anytime soon," he muttered but the two other boys didn't seem to pay him any mind. He let out a defeated sigh.

"You are welcome to come too, if you want to," he told Shikaku and headed back to the stairs. It was time to get this over with and endure the following cooing and fawning.

He snorted when he realized the actual practical test hadn't changed any from this time to the time he knew. It was ridiculous. They could at least have varied it slightly from year to year. Not enough to change the exam itself, just enough to make it more interesting from the students. There were plenty of easy D – ranked jutsu after all, and they could have chosen some of them in addition to the standards. That way the students wouldn't know years in advance what they would be tested in, and they would have something to surprise potential enemies with.

During the shuriken and kunai testing he decided to give the teachers and jonin instructors scouting out their potential students something to gawk at. Having thrown his shuriken rather lazily he clapped his hands together in front of his face and spoke surely; Wind Release: Gale Wind Palms.

The gust of wind ripped the air in front of him and quickly overtook the spinning shurikens, adding to their speed and strength. As they hit their target, they burrowed deeply into the wooden blink and didn't stop until the tips of the throwing stars had reached through the blink. The tearing winds further sliced the wood, gashing the blink and cutting of large chunks. Minato tilted his head with a small smile and waved at where he felt the jonin were hiding. It wasn't nice spying on their future students after all…. There were rustling in the leaves, and some of the trees shook a little, making the chunin teachers who had previously been stunned at his little show smirk and snicker. They were used to the antiques of their colleagues, but it didn't mean they liked having them hanging around their workplace. For the jonin to be 'caught in the act' so to speak was funny, especially when it was an eight year old not yet a genin who caught them. The whispers from the other students, however, he could have done without.

"…that's so cool," a boy with brown hair mumbled awe struck. Minato thought his was names Shou, but wasn't sure. He didn't know the rest of the class that well, and he hadn't cared to get to know them either. Ah, that wasn't really true. He hadn't had the need to, seeing as he would always find his friends from the lower years to be with, and didn't have the time after school. The others seemed to agree. He had gained quite a reputation among the students. He wasn't sure where it had come from, or exactly what it was, but they didn't bother him like they did their first year. Perhaps they finally understood he could kill them if he wanted to, or at least maim them good. It made them actually respect them, and Minato was sure he would never understand human nature if that was why they respected him. It was a subtle difference between this and the respect he got from his friends. They respected him for who he was, these people saw someone or something else in him. It was unnerving.

He didn't spend time worrying about it. He was happy when he later that night had company of Mr. and Mrs. Yamanaka, Inoichi, Kaero, Kushina and Shikaku. Inoichi's father and mother had unexpectedly come with their son, and congratulated Minato wholeheartedly. They had even bought him a new set of kunais as a graduation gift. He wasn't sure what to say, but stuttered his thanks and for once he acted like a child should, much to his chagrin. The parents had chuckled and ruffled his hair. Kushina, Kinuto and Kaero had bought him a basic medical set. All active ninja were required to carry one in their pouch, so it was a practical gift. Shikaku gave him what pleased him the most; sweets.

The team placement took place four days later. Minato hadn't thought about it, but now he would have to team up with people he didn't know, while he still thought of his previous team as 'his'. It wasn't possible, he knew, but he still felt a sad at the thought of losing that little bit of himself. He wasn't sure if he could say he was himself anymore. He wasn't who he had been, and probably not who he should be, but he was someone, that much was clear. He did have a personality, he did have his thoughts and he did have a goal even if who he was, was getting blurred.

The classroom was filled with chattering new students who all kept talking to calm their nerves. Minato choose his seat at the back of the room, where less people would notice him and badger him for his stunt at the exam. He had heard people talk about him when he walked past them. That in itself wasn't strange to him, he had been the most whispered about person in Konoha after all, but what they said was new. They were praising him and looked at him with pride and amazement, as if he was somehow theirs. Too bad he didn't feel like indulging them and satisfy their curiosity.

"Escaping?" the flat yet soft voice asked from beside him and he stiffened momentarily before nodding shortly. He didn't turn to see who spoke to him, since any movement could draw attention to them.

"Tactical retreat," he answered, and he could havesworn he felt amusement from the person beside him even if he didn't give any outwards token of that. He glanced to his side and saw a large jacket, and immediately raised an eyebrow. He hadn't been aware of any Aburame in his class, but then again, they didn't make much of themselves. Always trying to remain invisible and unnoticed. The perfect spies.

"Aburame Shibi. I was wondering how you knew of the jonin watching us at the exam?"

So the Aburame did want information after all, and when realizing he wouldn't get anything from just observing, went directly to the source. Minato smirked lightly.

"I felt their chakra…. I have always been highly sensitive to it, and they weren't trying too hard to hide. To me they were like beacons."

Always being since he returned here and had to explain his knowledge of chakra.

"I see."

They didn't say more. Not that they had time, and Minato had never been able to have long conversations with any Aburame. They weren't sociable enough. He was sure they communicated with their bugs, so maybe they were kept occupied through them. Gaara had 'talked' to the Ichibi, and even if it was a difference there, he had kept a part of his mind constantly on the demon. The Aburame might do something similar with their bugs. It was worth looking into, when he got to know one of them well enough to ask.

The teacher, a fat guy Minato first thought belonged to the Akimichi clan but then was told just was fat, appeared behind the desk and started the annual graduation speech. Minato mentally made a note to tell Kushina about this so she could prepare and bring something to elude boredom. She was a lot like he had been when he was young, constantly full of energy and not liking to listen to 'useless' talk.

When he started on the teams, the usual outbursts of approval of dissatisfaction roamed the room between the announcements. The Aburame was teamed up with an Uchiha girl, Mikoto, and a civilian born boy. Minato couldn't remember him from the future, so odds were he had died during the war. Then again, there were lots of ninja in Konoha. It was like Kakashi once had told them. There were one Kage in each of the major villages, hundreds of chunin, fewer jonin but still many and thousands of genin. Okay, maybe not thousands, but there were certainly more of them than any others. As one person he couldn't possible know everyone personally.

The girl reminded him of Sasuke, but he was reminded of him each time he saw any of the Uchiha clan, so he didn't find it strange at all. What he was curious about was their interaction. The Aburama had nodded once to each of his teammates, then remind still and silent as usual. Mikotohad smiled and given him a wave, before turning and doing the same to the other boy. That boy, however, looked absolutely gob smacked at the Aburame. Minato knew what he was thinking. 'When did he join our class?!'

He was worried however, when his name wasn't mentioned. That should have told him something was happening, but thought nothing of it when the teacher motioned for him to remain in the classroom. The rest of the class was released for lunch, and so Minato found himself alone with the teacher. The man looked mildly unsure of what to say, and started several times to say something before breaking off and swearing under his breath. In the end he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm not sure how to out this, Minato. You are currently the youngest person to ever graduate from the Academy, since it was built. You are also probably one of the best students we've had. That has caused some….concern among the ranks. Seeing as you are so young, Hokage – sama decided to place you with a tutor of your own and not on a team after consoling his advisors. You'll be picked up with the others, and you'll have the normal genin duties, just not with a team."

Minato frowned. Typical. Those doodling old coots. Couldn't they have left him alone and how much of this was out of any real concern for him and how much was politics? He wasn't stupid. He knew he had attracted attention from numerous people. Some were no concern of his, while others….. He wasn't sure what he'd do if Orochimaru decided he'd be nice to use as an experiment a few years down the road or if, God forbid, Danzou should try to recruit him. Well, all he could do was sit back and wait for the pervert to pick him up. He'd know in good time what games were in play here.

The genin filed in and Minato noticed that many of them were grouping themselves in their teams. Not for the first time he wondered whether or not the whole lunch - after - announcing – the - teams thing was intentional to let the genin get used to their teams. It had some merit to it. Slowly, the room also filled with jonin instructors, and Minato entertained himself by studying him.

Just behind the teacher's desk, by the blackboard, stood a woman with a strange hair color between red and orange. She had a blue outfit on, reminding him of the outfit he remembered Ino used. By her side stood a man from the Hyuga clan; his white eyes denoted his heritage. He had similar lose outfit as all Hyuga Minato had seen, and he had to wonder if they were exhibitionists at heart. Their lose shirts always seemed to show off more than necessary. In a corner stood an Uchiha. His eyes were closed, and he wore a standard jonin outfit, with a west and all, but with the Uchiha fan on his left shoulder and a butterfly, of all things, on his right. He had his hair in a high ponytail, which was as long as any Yamanakas.

Beside him stood another man, this one with a large grey cloak and a stern expression on his face and a woman with a long staff. Minato had no idea what the staff was for, but the laughter dancing in her eyes as she looked at some of the genin told him he might not want to know. She reminded him a little of how Mitarashi Anko could smile when she sensed a new…. Subject of interest. Eventually Shibi's team left with her, and one by one the instructors indicated or told their teams to follow them. In the end, it was just him and the Uchiha left. With nothing else to do, he kept his eyes on the man and wondered when his teacher was supposed to get there. Having dealt with one tardy prone sensei was enough, and if Jiraiya proved to do the same in this time he was going to seriously hurt him…. even if it was more likely that the man was peeping at the hotsprings.

"Aren't you a silent one," the man said at long last. Minato eyed him for a moment and tilted his head to the side.

"Who are you?" he asked and the man grinned bemusedly.

"Uchiha Yashino. Your new sensei."

Minato stared at him with large eyes. Oh fuck no, this wasn't happening. Where the hell was Jiraiya and what the hell was going on? And why, why, was he constantly stuck with the thrice damned clan?! Was it some sort of divine punishment? Had he done something to piss off the higher powers? If so he was regretting whatever offence he had committed.

Hehehe, poor guy.... Don't worry, he'll meet up with Jiraiya in time. Ithought he would have graduated earlier this time than when the original Minato went to the Academy, simply because originally he didn't have any previous ninja training, or that is the impression I have gotten. If he didn't have any clan or family to train him, he would have had to learn what the Academy thought at the same tempo as everyone else. If he was as good as everyone makes him out to be, he could of course have asked for more to do, but from my own experience with how the schools work, if you are a 'genius' you only get more information on something you already have a basic understanding of, and more work on that; you aren't allowed to skip too far ahead of the rest of the class. when that happens or if that happens, they'll try to push you up a class....