Hi guys and gals, This is my first attempt at writing a story so any advice and help would be appreciated. If i mess up what characters call each other let me know so I can fix it in the future. Feel free to offer suggestions as well for the story.
With all fanfiction I dont own Naruto or any characters in it.
Just a little thing I probably should have added the first time i posted this chapter. I want to make note on how I plan to work with Kekkai Genkai/Bloodline limits. I plan to respect that Bloodline limits are kept in the bloodlines of those who had it before. But I dont remember the anime ever going into detail about how a Kekkai Genkai comes around. I want to explain it using genetics, as in Kekkai Genkai are genetic mutations that are very rare and are a dominent gene. As we have seen from the anime there are lots of different styles that Kekkai Genkai users created such as magnet style. But we know of at least 3 users of Magnet style Garaa's father, the Third Kazekage, and Toroi from Kumogakure. I doubt that Toroi and Garaa are related so that's how I plan to explain it. Both had mutations that allowed them to possess 2 main chakra natures and they fashioned their own styles that happened to coincide. Physical Bloodlines are more strict in their transfer as you would need to be a direct descendant to possess one like the Sharingan. While someone could be born with 2 chakra natures out of the blue. I don't wanna spoil if Naruto is Senju or it came naturally but that's my take on it.
Naruto ran through the forest of Konoha carrying an oversized scroll in both arms. The scroll was full of secret and forbidden jutsu the village had collected since its founding. His mission was to learn one technique from the scroll to achieve a crucial step in achieving his dream. Mizuki had promised that if he steal it and learn from it he would pass and become a ninja of the village hidden in the leaves. For the past 3 years he failed time and time again, he didn't know what was worse, the looks and abuse he suffered at the hands of the villagers or having to watch his classmates year after year pass without him.
Every year they put the clone jutsu on the final exam seemingly to spite him. It was the only thing he couldn't do and every year it failed him right at the end. Naruto felt bad stealing from Jiji's office, if it wasn't foe him he wouldn't have even be let in the academy, let alone repeat it again and again. Naruto settled behind an old shack that had long since been abandoned as was covered in graffiti. It was as good a place as any to try and learn. Hokage-sama would only be down for the count form his trademarked Sexy Jutsu for a little while longer so he had to hurry.
"You've got to be kidding me." Naruto groaned as he rolled out the scroll. Staring back at him was a jutsu that sounded powerful but naturally it had to be a clone jutsu, his worst jutsu. "Maybe the scrolls a better teacher than Mizuki." I mean sometimes it felt as if that man wanted him to fail figuring he made the final exams. Buuuut if he learned a secret clone jutsu he could rub it in everyone's face since they laughed at him.
Next to the name it had a little note that said Kekkei Genkai dependent in parathesis. For the average ninja they would know that the technique was dependent on your bloodline and as such was impossible for the anyone else to learn. Naruto however, skipped that day in class, and so he sat down and began going through the hand signs.
Meanwhile in the Village hidden in the Leaves.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was at a loss for words. He had been Hokage for so many years, all the time never being defeated and always protecting the village. But Naruto had surpassed him, the young always surpass the old. "Hokage-sama how could this have happened." A Jonin asked the seasoned leader of their village. Hiruzen patted his nose with a handkerchief, cleaning up the stray drop of blood from the flashback he was experiencing. He was considering adding that Sexy Jutsu of his to the forbidden scroll, at least while he was Hokage.
"It matters not, the important thing now is to retrieve the scroll and Naruto in one piece." It wasn't like Naruto to do something like this, an errant prank was normal but theft of a forbidden scroll, no that was too much. "Search the village and the forest, find him." The gathered ninja jumped away in search of the blonde boy. Hiruzen retreated to his office where there was an old scrying ball, with it he would be able to see Naruto and who convinced him to do something so stupid.
Almost every ninja stationed in the village was out looking for Naruto but odds were they wouldn't find him, they couldn't even find him after his pranks what was different now. Iruka however had a better idea of where Naruto would be, so he headed out towards an old shack the boy used as a refuge sometimes.
As he approached he heard the telltale sounds of Naruto celebrating, he could hear him yelling and celebrating like he did when he thought he lost his tale. Iruka jumped into the clearing where Naruto was dancing besides the forbidden scroll he had stolen a 'few hours ago' the Hokage was vague about when it had happened.
"NARUTO! WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?" Iruka stomped up the Naruto who turtled his head when he heard Iruka's voice.
"Iruka sensei, what are you talking about? I passed the test, I got one of these Jutsu down. I'm a ninja now right?" Naruto jumped on the balls of his feet obviously excited. Naruto was just acting his normal self but what he said made zero sense. What test? Jutsu?
"Naruto, what are you talking about?"
Naruto looked at his sensei oddly "The test Mizuki told me about. That if I could steal the scroll and learn a technique from it I pass. Don't worry I definitely got an awesome technique down."
"I sincerely doubt that." A new voice rang out. Naruto and Iruka both turned to see Mizuki walking into the clearing clad with weapons. "It seems you are good at something Naruto after all, congratulations, you pass because you just betrayed your village. Now hand over that scroll if you would."
Naruto paled "Wha what do you mean Mizuki sensei?" Iruka got between his student and assistant, weapon drawn.
"Did you really think I would pass you? That's funny now step aside Iruka, you wouldn't protect the monster would you?" Mizuki moved forward drawing one of the large shuriken from his back readying it. His main goal was the scroll Naruto had out, and if he got to kill the brat, even better.
"Naruto stay behind me. Why Mizuki, why betray your village?" It had been too long since Iruka acted as a ninja. Who knew how long Mizuki prepared for this. In response to his question Mizuki laughed.
"Power of course, when I give that scroll to Orochimaru he will reward me beyond measure."
"You would work with that traitor?" Iruka growled, everyone his age and up knew of the terror and pain Orochimaru had caused the village when his actions were discovered. He had known some of the children abducted by the man.
"You call ME a traitor Iruka, yet you protect HIM. Forget it I'll take the scroll from your cold dead hands." Mizuki threw the oversized shuriken at them both. Iruka had to dodge but if he did Naruto was sure to get hit. Iruka knew what he had to do, he turned and pushed Naruto out of the way just in case just as his back exploded in pain. He fell to the ground with the shuriken sticking out of his back. Iruka looked to his side and saw Naruto with tears streaming down is face.
"Why Iruka sensei? Why do that for me?" He was shaking, trembling at the sight.
Iruka's expression softened "You are my student Naruto. I know that you'll do great things one day, and it's my job to make sure that happens." He pushed Naruto with one arm "Now go, take the scroll and get to the village. Ill delay him long enough." Naruto couldn't just leave his sensei here with Mizuki alone.
"Fat chance, I'm going to kill you and the fox." Mizuki advanced on the boy now that Iruka was disabled.
Naruto stood between Iruka and Mizuki "I won't let you hurt Iruka sensei anymore." He threw his hands into the snake seal that the scroll had instructed him to do. He built up chakra and focused on the jutsu. Seeing this Mizuki laughed out loud. Was the brat serious.
"You couldn't even make a clone Naruto, and you expect me to believe you learned something from that scroll. That's priceless now let's get this over wit- huh." Mizuki stopped dead in his tracks as chakra swirled around the failure. Mizuki stepped back, he didn't know of any jutsu that only used one sign and the snake sign at that. He shook his head as he saw what Naruto was doing to try and shake him out of the nightmare he must have been in. Protruding or better yet growing from Naruto were chunks of wood that began to look like Naruto himself. More and more came from him as tens, no, hundreds of perfect clones made from wood came into existence.
He quickly became surrounded and in desperation he threw the other large shuriken at a group hoping to carve a path of escape. The weapon flew from his grip and landed a hit on a clone. The problem was the clone didn't die, the shuriken merely imbedded itself in the clone like a weapon in the trunk of a tree, doing nothing. It really was a wooden clone, the fox brat had managed to use the Mokuton, the wood style of Hashirama the first Hokage.
Naruto grinned like a madman as he looked out on a sea of clones, ready to beat his old teacher. "How do you like that, that's what I call a clone baby. Now, let's get started." With that every clone surged forward drowning Mizuki in the sea.
scene break.
Hiruzen was rarely at a loss for words, he had seen much in his long life but this, this was threatening to end that long life too early. Naruto possessing the Mokuton wasn't a possibility he had ever given any thought. He ran through his parents and their parents before them looking for any connection to the Senju clan that might explain it. Possibly Kushina but that was a long shot. He looked at the mountain lit up from moonlight and his eyes fell to the First Hokage. It was a accepted fact that only the Senju bloodline could wield the Mokuton, others had been known to posses the water/earth Kekkai Genkai but none had been able to produce any semblance of the Wood Style.
The Senju clan never produced another Mokuton user and with Tsunade being the last remnant of the legendary clan, it probably never would. So how did Naruto have it? He would need to research this, another problem was how close Mizuki had come to telling Naruto of the 9 Tails. He would have questions that he would need answered but that could be delayed. There was much to think about, before he could think about it more Naruto and Iruka entered his office carrying the scroll he had taken.
"Jiji guess what I did. I mas- OW Iruka sensei." He rubbed his head as a lump was surely growing.
"NARUTO, do what I told you." Iruka scolded the hyper boy.
"Oh yea, Hokage-sama, I apologize for my actions. I accept any punishment." Getting on one knee felt weird, especially in front of the old man but Iruka had told him it probably was a good idea, and that he could go out for ramen if he did.
Hiruzen smiled, after all these years this was the first time Naruto referred to him as his title and if he was being honest, it felt weird for him as well. "Thank you for taking responsibility Naruto but I see no need for any punishment. Its obvious Mizuki was the real traitor and as such he will bear responsibility and punishment." He sat down for the first time that night in relief. "I'm proud of both of you, Iruka, Naruto. You both showed character, especially you Naruto. And as such, Iruka, I think he earned something. Ah I see you were already ahead of me there." Naruto beamed from the praise and felt his forehead protecter again to make sure it was still there. "I think it would be a good idea for us to talk Naruto, but not tonight. Celebrate your graduation and come back sometime tomorrow." He knew Naruto would celebrate with ramen and from what he saw, he deserved it before everything was heaped on him.
As Naruto followed Iruka headed for Ichirakus Hiruzen got started. It would be a long day tomorrow especially brining up things better left unsaid.
SCENE BREAK
Naruto woke up early because today was going to be a good day. He couldn't wait to learn more about his newfound skill and especially try out new Jutsu, he had seen a bunch more in the scroll but hadn't gotten to them by the time Iruka found him. The looks he was getting today were especially bad, it was close to the eve of the Kybuui attack and when that day came around everyone was worse than usual. He shook them off and walked into the Hokage tower. The receptionist was as usual giving him a look that could kill but when was that any different. He opened the Hokage's door and saw the old man looking very much his age but when Hiruzen saw him he lightened up.
"Ah Naruto, I'm surprised you up so early after last night."
"I have a bunch of questions Jiji, plus once you go to the bathroom, going back to sleep isn't easy." Naruto laughed while Hiruzen sighed, at least the Mokuton hadn't changed him.
"Moving on, I wanted to explain to you the gravity of the situation and let you know about things that you need to know about." Naruto sat down and moved closer in his seat to Jiji, he knew a little bit about the Mokuton but with his class history and attendance, it was sparce and fragmented. "The Mokuton or Wood Style as you know was the technique our founder, Hashirama Senju used to create the village. The strange thing about you is that no one thought you were a member of the Senju clan."
Naruto had an intense look on his face, a sign he was thinking a little too hard. "So I'm a part of the Senju clan? I thought it was an extinct clan?"
Hiruzen's face sagged as he became thoughtful "Its all but extinct, the Senju clan aside from you is down to its very last surviving member. My student Tsunade was believed to be the last surviving member and she had long since left the village."
"Why did she leave? Where is she?"
He sighed "She lost too much in the last war Naruto. And no one knows where she is, it's been years since she had any contact with the village." He only had one student left that didn't hate the village, and Jiraya wouldn't have been his pick.
Inside Naruto's head a lightbulb went off "Does that mean she's my family? That's what a clan is right, a big family?" He hoped he would say yes, he would do anything for that answer.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the third and technically fifth Hokage hated his actions or more accurately lack of action with Naruto. He knew that besides taking his hat, a family was probably the thing he wanted most. He could and should have done more but it was too late, at least now he could give him what he wanted, at least in spirit. "Essentially yes, a clan could be considered a large family. Somehow Tsunade is related to you as part of the same clan. Before you ask, I will send for her but it's been many many years. She may not respond."
"That's okay, I'll find her myself if I need to, believe it."
"I know you will, let's talk more about the Wood Style, do you have any questions.
"Yea, can I go through that scroll again Jiji? I cant wait to learn some more kickass jutsu." He punched the air in a mock fight.
Of course he would want to learn new jutsu, not learn how it works or how to control it better. The seasoned Hokage rubbed his temples, he needed a second opinion on how to help train Naruto, Hashirama never really explained how he learned, or at least when he tried you couldn't understand him. "That will come in time Naruto, you aren't nearly ready for more yet, I'm surprised nothing bad happened learning the Wood Clone Jutsu you have." Seeing the disappointment in Naruto he compromised. "When your new sensei" putting emphasis on the word "tells me you are ready I will gladly help you learn. Until then I believe you need to meet your team soon." Bam Naruto was now hooked on thinking about being a ninja again completely forgetting about the scroll. The boy might be a prodigy with how quickly he learned the Wood Clones Jutsu but his chakra control was awful and he needed proper training before he progressed.
"Oh yea, Mizuki called me a monster and said something about a fox I think. What was he talking about?" Damn, so close Hiruzen thought. How was he going to explain the 9 Tails to him let alone how it was INSIDE HIM. He had obviously noticed how he was treated differently by the villagers and like Kushina before him this was going to be a hard conversation. He wasn't nearly ready for the information but who his age could be. The last thing he wanted was for Naruto to consider himself a weapon. He heard tales of other jinchuriki who thought like that and it never ended well.
"Naruto I'll make you a deal. If you manage to become a chunin as I have no doubt you will, I will explain everything to you the best I can." thankfully he agreed. It would only get worse the longer he waited but this could destroy the Naruto he knew and loved.