o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Chapter 3

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The next day, Naruto went back to the Academy. Questions abounded, especially from curious students and teachers, but Naruto, forbidden by the Sandaime (as well as ignorant of the true events himself) could not tell them anything.

Hinata also returned, and, though she still stuttered frequently, was often encouraged by Naruto. Although the blond still was viewed as hopeless, he still tried as well, if only to impress his new friend.

The teachers continued to ignore the jinchuuriki, most likely in hopes that, if left untaught, Naruto would just give up. So, Naruto remained ignorant for the most part, though he was also self-taught in many other areas, trying clumsily to replicate what he had seen others do.

And so years passed.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

As time went by, Naruto began to mature, somewhat, into a hardworking student. Still pushed aside, he did have one friend: Iruka.

Beginning when Naruto was nine, Iruka, also, began to open up to Naruto, taking him out to ramen a few times. After being glomped hugely by the hyperactive jinchuuriki, Iruka began to listen to Naruto's thoughts and complaints. Even though he knew that he couldn't wave a hand and make life easier for the boy, Iruka still felt guilty for looking at the Uzumaki as just another troublemaker, seeing some parallels between their lives.

So the scarred chuunin helped Naruto when he could, gradually strengthening their bond almost to the point of brothers. He was there for Naruto, sharing stories of his parents, even though a small voice tugged at the back of his mind that he was helping his parents' killer. He ignored the voice, and it went away eventually, only leaving a small nagging at the bottom of his thoughts.

Hinata began to come out of her shell, and she and Naruto became good friends, only drifting apart when, at age ten, Naruto began his infamous crush on Sakura. They still talked, occasionally, though Hinata was disappointed that her friend wasn't spending as much time with her.

Naruto trained, even when so discouraged by the villagers that he wanted to give up and scream. Fortunately, no event such as the one that happened when he was six ever re-occurred, whether due to fear of the Hokage's wrath, or for some other reason. But Naruto was still left alone, not beat physically, but socially and emotionally, having only a few friends, almost completely isolated where other children would have whole circles of friends and acquaintances.

But whenever Naruto felt like giving up, a voice always rose up in his mind, giving him confidence, and so he persevered. Whether a touch of warmth, giving him the will to try again, or a brush of wind, blowing away his misconceptions, he tried his best to remain strong, throwing himself into his training, clumsy and unhelped as it was.

The Sandaime, true to his word, kept a wary eye on young Naruto, visiting him at his apartment weekly. Naruto was always overjoyed to see his "jiji-san" and would babble happily for over an hour on the awesome ninja stuff he was learning, before Sarutobi would smile kindly, bow his head, and leave.

He continued watching the Uzumaki, but never again was there an incident like there had been during the kidnapping. Although some chuunin instructors reported strange happenings going on around the boy, it was never enough to fully arouse suspicions, and so Naruto remained unwatched for the most part.

Hyuuga Hiashi watched Naruto warily, waiting for a time when he might be useful to the clan. The shock of having his child kidnapped a second time pulled a reversal of his personality, somewhat, and though he was never a completely loving father, he would encourage his daughters gently, instead of harshly yelling at them for failure.

Finally, the day of the Academy graduation exam came, and with it came worries and excitement.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Bouncing to school that day, Naruto could barely contain himself. The day, which he had worked toward for years, was finally here! He mentally gave a cheer- nothing could stop him once he was a ninja! He sped into the classroom where his classmates were waiting for Iruka-sensei to begin the test.

He waved at Hinata who waved back, and, for some reason he couldn't guess, turned red and waved back. Huh. She's been doing that a lot lately. Maybe she's sick? Still grinning widely, he jumped up to the seat to the side of the room, right next to Sakura.

Sitting down, though, Naruto was interrupted by Sakura's screeching. "Naruto-baka! That's Sasuke-kun's seat!" And, speak of the devil- there was Uchiha Sasuke himself, smirking down at Naruto who just moved over while the Uchiha sat down.

Hmph. What's so great about him anyway? Naruto grumbled to himself as he fidgeted, looking at the kids who he had, effectively, grown up with. There was Kiba, Chouji, and Shikamaru, who he had often skipped school with, though they weren't that close, anyway. There was Hinata and Ino, the latter doing something with her hair. And then there was Shino, just sitting quietly with his trenchcoat pulled up to cover his face. That guy just gives me the creeps.

Iruka entered the room, face drowning in the pile of paperwork he was carrying, closely followed by Mizuki-sensei. Naruto scowled- he didn't really like the guy. After all, he had just helped all the other teachers ignore and belittle him in the hopes he would leave. As his assistant went to set the papers down on the desk, Iruka turned and addressed the class.

"Now, everyone, today, as you all know, is the Academy Graduation Exam. You will be tested on your skills in the parts of a ninja's repertoire, like stealth, weapons, taijutsu, academics, and ninjutsu. Now come outside so we can test you." The students filed out, while Naruto mentally was bubbling with excitement. Stealth was his best section- after all, who else had escaped from ANBU at age eight after pulling a prank?

Naruto, for once, got top marks on the stealth portion, though he missed his teachers' twitches as they fumed over the Kyuubi-brat's passing grade.

Next came weapon throwing, and though he wasn't as good at it, Naruto could usually hit the target. He reached for a kunai and picked it up. Huh, it feels kinda weird. Shrugging the feeling off, Naruto threw it- and missed the target entirely. His mouth dropped open and he tried again, this time with shuriken. Every single one missed.

Spinning around in shock, Naruto caught the smug smirk on the face of one of the chuunin instructors. He made to protest to Iruka, who only frowned and shook his head in disappointment before he could even say anything. "I'm sorry, Naruto. Maybe you should just practice more." And then he left, leaving Naruto dumbfounded.

And then came taijutsu, where each student was paired up with an instructor. Unfortunately for Naruto, he wasn't paired up with Iruka- Sakura was- and he was stuck with Mizuki.

"Begin," said Mizuki, smirking evilly, and Naruto charged, slipping into the bastardized forms of the Academy taijutsu style that he had managed to learn. Mizuki easily sidestepped and Naruto almost fell over, skidding to a halt. Flushing as he ignored the other students' laughter, Naruto leapt at Mizuki, who blocked his kick with an arm before sweeping out the jinchuuriki's feet from under him.

Naruto began to get frustrated and ran at Mizuki, seeing red, arms and legs swinging ferally as he snarled. The chuunin looked surprised for a second before a caught Naruto with a backhand to the head, and the Uzumaki fell over on the ground as Mizuki shook his head mockingly. He made to shout at the unfairness- teacher's weren't supposed to attack back, only block! - but before he could open his mouth Iruka whistled for everyone to come inside for the next part of the test.

Head downcast, Naruto trudged inside with the rest.

As Mizuki went around passing out papers, he made a single handseal before handing Naruto his test, smirking before passing on. Naruto gaped at his paper in confusion, not understanding a word that he read. Find the parabola of this quadratic equation? What the hell? "Iruka-sensei!" he called out, but the man just looked at him and ordered him to be quiet.

When Iruka went around to collect the tests, Mizuki just sat and dispelled the genjutsu he had placed over Naruto's test. Seeing Naruto's blank paper, Iruka just picked it up and looked at it sadly before moving on to get the rest of the papers, not noticing the blond's dumbfounded expression.

"Finally, ninjutsu. Everyone line up at the side of the room. Each of you will come one by one into this side room where we will administer the test to you. First, Aburame Shino."

As the line got progressively shorter, Naruto started to panic. He was already failing, and if they chose Bunshin for the test, he didn't think he could pass. No! Think positive! This will notbe like the last two times! He mentally prayed for henge no jutsu to be the final test.

"Uzumaki Naruto."

Sweating, Naruto slowly walked in the door, seeing Mizuki and Iruka sitting behind a desk, waiting for him. On the side of the desk stood several hitai-ates, awaiting someone to earn them. Alright. I can do this! Gulping, Naruto went to stand in front of his senseis.

"Okay Naruto," Iruka began. "Please make three Bunshin to pass."

Instantly, everything came crashing down. Bunshin? But he knows that's my worst technique. Naruto looked up and saw Iruka with a solemn look in his eye, and knew he had no choice.

"Bunshin no jutsu!" he called out, hands in the Ram seal. There was a puff of smoke, and then-

"I'm sorry, Naruto. You can't pass."

Naruto stood, looking in shock and sorrow at the one pathetic clone that he had managed to produce, lying there half-dead and alone. No… he thought, and he knew it would be hopeless to protest.

"You know," said Mizuki, "He did manage to produce one clone. Maybe we should let him pass." Naruto's heart leapt out of his chest and he thought, for one second, that he'd be allowed to pass- before it all came crashing down.

"I'm sorry Mizuki, but Naruto only managed to produce one clone, and a very bad one at that," Iruka said, shaking his head sadly. "I'm sorry Naruto. You fail."

And Naruto trudged out.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Sitting on the swing by the yard of the Academy, Naruto watched emptily as the other kids walked out proudly and were congratulated by their parents. He could only wish for parents of his own, because at times like this… he bowed his head to his chest, trying to block out the whispers that were coming from the adults who were looking at him.

"Heh, can you imagine letting that become a shinobi?"

"Yeah, good thing he failed."

"What a loser."

"Good thing that monster couldn't become a ninja."

"Freak!"

Crying silently, Naruto ran away to elsewhere in the village, trying to ignore the jeering faces and hurtful words.

From inside the Academy, a blue-haired chuunin watched him go and smirked, the beginnings of a plan forming.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Naruto sobbed quietly on the roof of the Academy, watching the sun set. As if the sun represented his hopes and dreams, with every inch it moved closer to the ground, he felt another weight on his heart. He curled up in a ball and just wished to melt away into the ground.

"Naruto?"

Naruto stiffened and looked around. Who's that? "Oh," he said. "Hey, Mizuki-sensei."

The chuunin smiled and sat down next to Naruto. "I'm sorry you didn't pass, Naruto," he said. Naruto grunted.

"You know, Iruka never wanted to fail you. I guess you just reminded him too much of himself, and so he wanted you to be able to be the best before you could graduate."

"But- why?" Naruto choked out. "He knew how much I needed to pass, and…"

"Naruto, Iruka can't just let you pass. He likes you, but he can't just break the laws of the village. Do you understand?" Naruto nodded quietly.

"You know, Naruto," Mizuki said, a sly smirk crossing his face. "There is an extra-credit assignment that you could do in order to graduate anyway."

"Really?" Naruto exclaimed, his heart leaping up.

"Yep!" said Mizuki, a smile on his face. "We don't often give it out, and it's top secret. But, I've seen what you can do, and I think you've got what it takes. Iruka himself recommended you for it."

By now, Naruto was listening to Mizuki intently, stars glittering in his eyes. "So what do I have to do?" Maybe Mizuki isn't all bad.

I've got you now, Mizuki thought as he eyed the entranced blond. "Well, let's see. There's this scroll…"

Yes, part one complete.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

There was quiet and darkness in the room, the only sound being the scratching of a pen on paper. Sarutobi rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock. Ugh, two hours to go. He resumed filling out his paperwork.

The door opened. "Ah, Naruto! What are you doing here-"

"OIROKE NO JUTSU!"

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Naruto cackled as he leapt out of the window of the Hokage's office. "Heh! I've got the scroll!" Now, he thought. What was I supposed to do now… He brightened. Aha! I've gotta meet Mizuki-sensei at the forest in a few hours! Alright. Rubbing his hands together gleefully, Naruto made for the forest.

Landing in a small clearing, Naruto looked around. Hm. Looks like nobody's around. So…

Naruto took the scroll off his back and opened it up. "Okay! Now, which super-awesome move should I learn first?" Seeing the first thing on the scroll, Naruto groaned. "Kage Bunshin? That's my worst move!"

Oh, well, he thought. Maybe this version will be easier. And so Naruto busied himself trying to learn this new technique.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Iruka turned over on his bed, still feeling guilty over failing Naruto. I hope he can forgive me, but… A knocking at the door interrupted his thoughts. He went over to open it.

"Mizuki?" Iruka asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?" Suddenly, Iruka noticed that his assistant was out of breath and looked panicked.

"It's Naruto!" exclaimed the blue-haired chuunin. "He's-he's stolen the forbidden scroll of seals!"

"What?" Iruka stood there, shocked. He could never have imagined that this would happened. "Do you know where-"

"C'mon!" interrupted Mizuki. "We've got to find him!" And he took off, leaving Iruka behind.

Naruto… what have you done?

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Naruto breathed hard and folded up the scroll. Heh, so I finally got it down. Now, I'll…

"Naruto!"

Naruto spun around and saw Iruka jumping towards him. "Iruka-sensei! I found you!"

"No, you idiot, I found you!" Then Iruka noticed the disheveled state of Naruto's clothes. "What have you been doing here? You've gotta give me the scroll!"

"Nuh-uh!" Naruto answered. "I've been training! Mizuki-sensei said that if I learned a technique from this scroll, then you'd pass me!" He looked at Iruka expectantly, who was now frozen in place.

Training? Wait…Mizuki? Suddenly, Iruka heard a whizzing noise and he whipped his head around. "Naruto, look out!"

The Uzumaki leapt aside in confusion. "Iruka-sensei, wha-?" Then he saw the other person present. "Mizuki-sensei!"

"Mizuki!" Iruka spat, and the other chuunin grinned evilly.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

You are the Nine-tailed fox that destroyed the village twelve years ago!

Naruto froze in shock and pain. How? But then he looked at Iruka and saw the man standing still, head downcast. "No… Naruto breathed, and he knew it would be worthless ot deny it. All the stares, the hatred, even the incident six years ago.

Now it made sense, the half-looks that Iruka had always given him over the years. He knew that his brother/mentor hadn't always been entirely comfortable around him… so maybe he still hated him for killing his parent? His mind screamed no, but in his soul he was willing to accept.

Maybe… maybe he deserved it? No! But the thought was to strong, and he curled up in a ball, wishing for reality to leave him be, so he could just die and be left alone, and-

Thwack!

Naruto looked up with shaking eyes and saw Iruka there, leaning above him, a giant shuriken lodged in his spine. "W-why?" he choked out, but Iruka could only smile sadly as tears ran down his face.

"Because… you are Uzumaki Naruto, and you are not the Kyuubi. I'm…sorry Naruto, for all this time, keeping it away from you."

"Ha!" shouted Mizuki. "But it's worthless, you know. Naruto's going to take this scroll and get his revenge on the village! That's what a demon would do!"

"No," said Iruka, standing up slowly and taking the shuriken out form his back. "He is not the fox. He is… Uzumaki Naruto… and he is… a shinobi of Konoha."

Mizuki only smirked wildly. "Aw, how touching. But now- it's time to die!" And he flung another shuriken at Iruka- but this one was blocked by a kunai. "Huh?" Mizuki wondered, before spotting Naruto on a branch, a dark look on his face.

"You… you do not touch Iruka-sensei." Naruto growled out. "And whatever you do to him, I'll give you back a thousandfold. Hah!" And he put his hands together in an unfamiliar seal, and Iruka for a moment wondered what it was.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto shouted, and Iruka was shocked. He learned such a high-level move in just a few hours? How-? But Naruto wasn't done.

An aura of burning light grew up around Naruto and Mizuki backed up a few steps. What? The brat's chakra is actually visible!

Suddenly, the traitorous chuunin was surrounded by a thousand Narutos- though these weren't ordinary shadow clones.

They were all colored differently, some in red, with clothes blazing crimson. Others were green-eyed, like the trees, and stood tall and proud. A third group stood at the ready, their collective hair glinting silver and blowing gently in the moonlight. Still more raised their fists, a yellow aura crackling around the limbs. A final group stood silently, colored a deep blue with eyes deeper than the oceans.

"Don't you ever touch Iruka-sensei again!" shouted the original, still enshrouded in that blazing white light, and the thousand Narutos leapt forward, fists crackling and roaring with energy. Iruka could only watch, dumbfounded, as Mizuki was routinely charred, crushed, sliced, shocked, and drowned, over and over. what was left at the end was barely recognizable as a ninja.

And then, Naruto collapsed. "Naruto!" shouted Iruka, and he ran towards the blond.

"Heh," chuckled Naruto weakly. "I… got… him." And he closed his eyes and slept.

Iruka took off running.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

In his office, the Sandaime sat silently, pleased, yet troubled. It seemed that something had changed with Naruto once more, and whatever it was, it couldn't be ignored.

Sarutobi sat quietly in the tower, and thought.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Naruto woke up in darkness.

Drip.

Drip.

"Who's there?" he called out, and was rewarded for his questions when five silhouettes stepped out from the shadows.

"Who are you guys?"

The one in the front smirked at Naruto. "We've been waiting for you… Prime."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

AN: Done!

R&R! IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT!

;-)

-SoS, out!