Code SIN - V. Growing Up – The Truth
"Naruto, are you alright?"
"Yeah, Mizuki-sensei," Naruto said glumly, sitting hunched over while slowly pushed himself back and forth on the rickety swings.
"Don't be angry at Iruka for not passing you, Naruto. He's just doing his best to make sure that his students stay safe," Mizuki reassured him.
Naruto sighed. "Yeah, I know, Mizuki-sensei. It's just that… I tried so hard this time to actually pass…" Naruto was proud of his acting skills. He even managed to fake tears and shudders, like he was actually crying!
"Well… I'm not supposed to tell you this… but there is another way to pass and become a genin. Think of it as… extra credit."
The blond boy immediately perked up. "Really?!"
Mizuki grinned evilly. 'Everything is going according to planned.' "Yes, Naruto. It's very simple. All you have to do is…"
"Naruto! What are you doing with the Forbidden Scroll of Sealing?!"
A battered and weary Naruto flashed Iruka a large and satisfied grin. "Aw, Iruka-sensei. You don't have to fake it anymore! I know all about the 'extra credit', and guess what? I did it! I did it!"
Iruka looked confused at the blond's words. "Extra credit? What extra credit?"
Naruto adopted a puzzled look on his face. "Well, Mizuki-sensei told me that if I sneaked in the Hokage's Tower, stole this big scroll, and mastered a technique on it, I'll be able to pass!"
Iruka frowned. "What? Naruto, that scroll is very important and holds this village's most guarded secrets and techniques. The list of jutsus there are all kinjutsus. I can't believe Mizuki would actually-" He jerked as a large shuriken sped towards the two at high speeds from the branches. He pulled Naruto away just in time, and the shuriken barely nicked his arm.
Mizuki perched upon the branch. He smirked at the pair. "Well, well, well. Looks like someone managed to find us. Naruto, good job on sneaking in the Hokage's Tower. Now hand me the scroll."
"No! Don't do it Naruto!" Iruka said in a panicked voice. "That scroll contains important information on Konoha that could jeopardize our village's safety if fallen into the wrong hands!"
Mizuki ignored Iruka. "Let me tell you a little secret, Naruto. It's about something that is related to you. In fact, everyone knows it."
"NO! That's an S-class secret!" Iruka cried out.
"Did you notice how people seemed to hate you, Naruto? Well, it's because-"
"Stop it, Mizuki!"
"-You hold the Nine-tailed Fox! You are the Kyuubi no Kitsune! You killed all the people in that attack, Naruto. Because of you, many people lost their loved ones. Because of you, the Yondaime died, sacrificing his life to save the village. Because of you, my sister died. Because of you, Iruka was left an orphan, parentless!"
Naruto trembled in shock. He had only followed Mizuki's directions based on a hunch, and that action revealed a huge secret about himself that he honestly did not want to know about. What he heard sickened him. To think that he had caused all these terrible things to the village he wished to protect-
"Don't listen to him, Naruto! You are not the Kyuubi!"
Mizuki chuckled wickedly. "Kill him, Iruka. You know you want to. After all, he was the demon who killed your father and mother-"
"You're right, Mizuki. The demon did kill my parents." Naruto took a sharp intake of breath at that, terrified that now he would have two chuunins wanting to kill him, with no one to protect him. That one of the first people who actually treated him civilly, Iruka, would betray him. "But Naruto is not the demon. He is the one who is holding back the demon. And for that, I thank him." Naruto actually felt tears in his eyes. Someone other than his adopted guardians had stood up for him, when he had every right to be angry at him.
Mizuki scowled. "So be it. I'll have to kill all three of you, then."
Naruto baffled expression made Mizuki grin maliciously. "Oh, didn't you know? Your best friend was here all along, listening to what I had to say."
Naruto stifled a gasp as Ino stepped forward shakily from the bushes.
"N-Naruto… Is it true? W-Were you…" She choked back a sob. "My uncle died in the Kyuubi attack. He was the only family I had aside from my mom and my dad. My mom can't have children anymore because of Kyuubi. Why did you-"
Ino was interrupted as Iruka threw himself in front of her to block an incoming shuriken with his kunai. The force behind the large, four-bladed weapon forced Iruka back a few steps. Ino was shocked still as her teacher staggered in front of her, anxious about the welfare of his students. He chanced a glance back at her. "Ino, don't blame Naruto for the things he did not do. Remember, it was the demon that attacked our village, not Naruto. He is simply the container, the cage that holds the Kyuubi. Isn't he your best friend? Don't you trust him?"
Ino remembered the times she and Naruto had played together, the fun they had. The cheerful and somewhat cynical blond had showed her kindness and had brought laughter to her life. He had made no hostile move against her. Why should she be afraid of Naruto? He had not changed at all. Knowing he held the Kyuubi inside him made no difference to his character. He was still Naruto. Realizing this, Ino felt slightly ashamed at the tone she had taken against Naruto.
Mizuki glared at the trio. "I didn't plan on using this, but you leave me with no choice, Iruka. Die, you traitorous fools!" The silver-haired chuunin picked up his last shuriken and launched the fast flying projectile at Iruka. The scarred chuunin could not dodge, because then the shuriken will hit Ino. All he could do was turn around and curve over Ino, hoping that the shuriken will not harm Ino. Iruka cried out sharply in pain as the large shuriken imbedded itself into a thankfully non-vital area, as noted by Naruto. Ino was terrified to see her teacher get injured protecting her. She just stood there, frozen in her spot, as she watched Iruka collapse on the ground in pain. Her eyes glazed over in shock as Mizuki cackled evilly, cut off from the world.
"Now, to get rid of the other two brats…" Having exhausted his supply of handy large shuriken, he grabbed a handful of normal shurikens and kunais. He threw those with immense power at Ino, who was still standing stock-still, unaware of the incoming danger. She finally snapped out of her daze as an orange blur landed in front of her, his body taking the brunt of the attack. Naruto's arms had more than fifteen shurikens and kunais imbedded in the skin.
He lifted defiant eyes at Mizuki. "I'm not going to let you harm another one of my precious people!"
Mizuki thought he saw a flicker of red in his eyes before they settled back into the regular blue shade. That was enough to get him spooked and allow time for Naruto to concentrate on his newly mastered technique. The jutsu looked incredibly simple and only required one handseal. Naruto put his fingers into a cross sign and said loudly, "KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!" The clearing was flooded with Narutos. Ino stared in surprise as the bunshins almost appeared… solid.
Mizuki gaped in fright. He knew this technique. It produced solid bunshins at the cost of a lot of chakra. He might be physically stronger than Naruto, but it was three hundred to one in this fight. Naruto grinned boldly. "Get him!!"
Ino watched in astonishment as Mizuki got pounded to the ground by the numerous Naruto clones. The blond made quick work of Mizuki and tied him up to a nearby tree with ninja wire he procured from one of the pockets on the chuunin's vest. He flashed Ino a happy smile, before promptly collapsing.
"Inu, report."
"Uzumaki Naruto has been found unconscious with two other chuunins, Mizuki and Umino Iruka I believe, and Yamanaka Ino. We retrieved the Forbidden Scroll of Sealing from his hands. The Yamanaka claimed that Mizuki had tricked Naruto in stealing the Scroll, and Iruka was hurt by Mizuki. We have taken Naruto, Iruka, and Mizuki to the hospital to be treated and have brought Ino with us. She is currently waiting outside the room. Your orders?"
The Hokage made a few handseals, then spoke out in an amused voice. "Your reports are always so vague, Kakashi. Don't worry, no one can hear us. So what did you really see, and what do you think about it?"
The dog-masked ANBU took off his mask, revealing a man wearing another mask that covered up almost half his face. Kakashi ran a hand through his silver hair, frustrated. "I saw an injured Iruka, a beat up Mizuki, and a worn out Naruto. Ino was just too shocked to do much. Honestly, I think Ino's right. Her story explains pretty much all our questions. What I'm wondering is how someone who just failed the Genin Exam beat someone of Mizuki's calibre. He couldn't have been anything lower than high chuunin level. But other than that, Ino's story should prove to be correct. We should get Ibiki or Anko to check her story, just in case. Do you want me to-"
The Hokage flipped his hand dismissively. "No need. I'm sure Ino will be with Naruto at the hospital. And chances are, both Ibiki and Anko will already be there." He contemplated the change of events.
"And Naruto failed the Genin Exam, you say?"
Naruto opened his eyes, before shutting them back painfully. The bright white walls of the hospitals really hurt his eyes. 'I've always hated hospitals,' Naruto scowled.
Just then, the door to his room opened, and the person entering squealed in joy. "Naruto!" She hurriedly placed down the fresh flowers she brought into a vase near his bedside before leaping towards him. She embraced him lightly, mindful of any injuries he might have sustained in the battle against Mizuki. She hastily stepped back, looking at the ground. An awkward silence fell between the two. Ino still didn't know how she should act in front of Naruto. She was still a little confused about her feelings, and she didn't want to charge into this headfirst and possibly ruin their friendship.
"Did something happen yet?! Aww… I think we just missed it!" Someone stumbled into the room. "I told you to hurry up, Ibiki! Picking up girls already, Naru-chan? Maybe we shouldn't leave you two lovebirds alone in the same room anymore. I never thought I'd see the day my little brother finally meet a girl that likes him back! I'm so proud of you!" The purple haired, scantily clad kunoichi at the door wiped away an imaginary tear.
"Step aside, Anko," A rough voice behind the woman grumbled. "I wanna see my favourite orange loving, ramen addicted teenager already damnit! Now move it."
His words went unnoticed by Naruto as Anko gave Ibiki the finger before bounding up to Naruto and crushing him in her arms. "Don't EVER do that again or I'll castrate you, you hear me?" She demanded. "Why must you be so stupid in a life-threatening situation? Fighting against someone who is so much more skilled than you. My poor Naru-chan could've been killed if Mizuki wasn't so dazzled by your handsome looks!"
"Get… off… me… you… crazy… lady! Can't… breathe…" Naruto coughed as Anko quickly let him go, trying to get air back into his lungs.
Ino laughed nervously. "Are they always like that, Ibiki-san?" She whispered to the scarred jounin.
Ibiki sighed. "All the time, Yamanaka. All the time…"
"Morino-san, have you made your decision?"
Ibiki cackled mentally at the man's nervous glances that never met his eyes. However, his expression remained cool and uncaring on the outside. He looked… bored.
"I, Morino Ibiki, officially declare genins Yamanaka Ino, Aburame Shino, and Uzumaki Naruto as members of the new Team 4," Ibiki intoned formally. He observed the looks of shock, confusion, and disgust displayed by the gathered Council members.
"What?!" A brave - or most likely, stupid - Council member cried out angrily. "The demon brat didn't even pass the Genin Exam! Even if we did, we can't let you make him more powerful! The demon will destroy our village again!"
Ibiki paid him little attention. "Either I take those three genins, or none at all. May I remind you of our agreement? Oh well. I'm sure the Yamanaka will work better under another sensei, anyways. Kurenai, perhaps." His eyes showed slight amusement. Ibiki had utter conviction on the acceptance of his team. His confidence was frightening. No one dared to defy him.
The Hokage glared at the man that spoke out. "Masuko Takuma, you have openly disregarded my law concerning the Kyuubi and have expressed ill intentions and threats against Uzumaki Naruto, a genin of the village. As Hokage, I have the authority to charge you for insubordination and the threatening of a member of the shinobi ranks. ANBU, please take him away."
Three masked shinobi appeared beside the man, grabbing him by his arms, and transported away. The rest of the Council stared in mute horror.
"Uzumaki Naruto has officially passed the Genin Exam due to an exceptional performance in the arrest of a traitorous chuunin in our village. I think that his importance in the mission showed that he is fully qualified for the position of genin. Any opposition against my decision will be dealt with," the Hokage stated with finality.
"Yamanaka's family techniques will be a great advantage in our line of work, as demonstrated by the previous success with Inoichi as an interrogator," Ibiki continued, unperturbed by the apprehension of a Council member. "As well, a female's superior chakra control will allow her to learn jutsus easier, and create her own unique techniques. I also recommend for her to choose to pursue an additional option, such as being a medic-nin, given her excellent chakra control. She will serve mainly as the interrogator and healer in the team.
"From what I have observed, the Aburame will work great as an information gatherer and tracker for our purposes. I'm sure the tracking team can spare one genin candidate for the T&I Department. His ability with bugs will be of help in the Torture Department, seeing as the Aburame's kikai bugs can be bred with other species to produce useful toxins and chemicals for the less… cooperative prisoners. He will serve as the tracker and torture specialist in the team.
"Uzumaki has expressed a natural talent for learning jutsus, mostly due to his enormous chakra capacity and the influence of his tenant. He is also very capable of moving silently and stealthily, as years of avoiding possible assassinations within our own village have taught him." He glared at everyone in the room. The members flinched at his wrath, but they felt no remorse in their actions against the Kyuubi jinchuuriki. "This will enable him to eliminate or subdue enemies as efficiently as possible. His enhanced senses will help him home in on his target. He will serve potentially as the retriever and heavy-hitting support in the team. I might decide to let him try his hand at torture and interrogation as well. The roles in the team might change, as it depends on their natural aptitudes in their respective positions."
The Council never stood a chance. All of their opinions were simultaneously shot down by Ibiki and the Hokage, and they had no choice but to grudgingly consent to Ibiki's choices.
Ibiki grinned triumphantly. 'Ha! Those fools never stood a chance against my analysis and awesome logic!'
A happy Ibiki is a sadistic Ibiki. As such, his unbridled glee is a terrifying thing. Everyone could not help but feel sorry for his next victims.
Even if those victims included one Uzumaki Naruto.
Jutsus Used/Mentioned
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu – Shadow Clone Technique -if you don't know this one, what are you even doing here?-
A/N: crappy ending? Definitely. I can't think of anything else =.="… I just want to hurry up and finish the chapter so I can think up the next. I think… the next chapter is going to be confusing. Well, the thoughts for the next chapter is confusing in my head, at least. Mehh…
my brain feels short-circuited from all the homework I had to do and the studying I crammed in for the past few hours...
Like it? Hate it? Leave a review/comment!