Even though the sun was barely beginning to peek over the horizon the shinobi and shinobi in-training of the Meimeikira Clan were either already hard at work training. The specially designed training fields and obstacle courses they employed were a particular favorite for the members of Konoha's ANBU Assassination Squads although they were never permitted to use these until the children of the Clan left for school each morning.
As was tradition among the Meimeikira Clan the children old enough to train in the Assassin Arts were taught by either their parent or a close relative from the time they were first able to mold chakra generally around the time they were five or six years of age. One such child was a now seven year old Naruto Meimeikira and though his black sweatpants, black sweatshirt and black slippers would be considered normal attire for a child wanting to laze around their house on the weekend these were in fact the traditional training clothes of a young Meimeikira child that has yet to earn the right to wear his Clan's Traditional Shinobi Training Uniform.
For two years Kushina Meimeikira has trained her son in the traditions and most basic techniques of their Clan and it was on this day that she had chosen to finally give her son their Clan's Traditional Right of Apprenticeship Test. For the last two years she has trained him in the use of chakra to cushion his footsteps so as to eliminate the sounds normally made by walking in the form of The Silent Walking Exercise. She has also taught him how to walk on walls and ceilings using only his chakra to anchor his feet using a modified version of the Tree Walking Exercise as well as how to step lightly using only the tips of his toes to support his weight much like a Western Ballet Dancer.
While most of the Shinobi World would consider the Tree Walking Exercise to be a Genin level chakra control exercise and the Silent Walking Exercise to be a high Chunin to low Jounin level chakra control exercise within the Meimeikira Clan these were considered the most basic skills a young would-be shinobi needed to learn before they were even permitted to enter Konoha's Ninja Academy much less be granted the right to continue their education in the ways of their Clan. Once these three skills were mastered to their instructor's satisfaction were the children permitted to attempt the Right of Apprenticeship and it was only those that successfully completed this test that were allowed to wear the Traditional Shinobi Training Outfit of the Meimeikira Clan.
"Alright Naru-chan," Kushina says as they approach the ten tiered tower that has served as the Meimeikira Clan's primary training course since its inception into the Ranks of Konoha's Clans. "Today you will take the Right of Apprenticeship," she informs him. "You have only three chances to successfully complete the first level and climb the ladder to the second level. You have a ten minute time limit for each attempt and should you fail all three attempts you will not be permitted to try again for at least one month do you understand?"
"Hai," an equally excited and nervous Naruto replies as he carefully looks over the layout of the floor before him.
"Remember that if you make even the slightest sound you fail that attempt and must start all over again," Kushina warns her only son.
Each level of the tower was more complex then the one below it and every level was designed specifically to test the Clan's shinobi's stealth and skill at avoiding detection under the most extreme situations. With each level a Shinobi successfully completes their standing among the Clan goes up and only those that successfully complete all ten levels earn the right to be called a True Master of Assassins.
The first tier of the tower was the not only the easiest but it was the level that the children of the Clan were required to complete before they were allowed to advance to the next stage of their shinobi training within the Clan. Its layout was a simple wooden floor with a network of ninja wire crisscrossing in a complex interwoven maze dotted by hundreds of tiny bells. There were of course gaps within the web-like network spaced close enough together that even a small child could step between gaps without extending their legs too far apart. What was traditionally concealed from those encountering this level for the first time was the fact that the wooden floorboards were laid down in such a way that they creaked whenever they were stepped on in any fashion without other then that taught specifically by the Clan.
Naruto closes his eyes as he takes a calming breath while picturing the floor before him in his mind's eye. A slow waltz begins playing in his mind as he sways slightly from the music in his head that only he can hear. While generally a part of the more traditional training one would expect to find in a Shinobi Clan all members of the Meimeikira Clan were taught all known forms of dance from the time that they could walk as many of their more high profile Assassination Missions were often conducted while undercover at one formal affair or dance over the generations.
With his eyes still closed Naruto begins the steps of his dance with an imaginary partner while channeling chakra to his feet to cushion his steps as he his mother had instructed him to do since he began his training. Opening his eyes he allows his mind to superimpose the images of the other children from his dance classes in the room before him as he and his imaginary partner dance their way through the room towards the ladder.
Kushina watches with an amused smile as her son dances his way through the course laid out before him and actually giggles as he bows to his dance partner once he reaches the safety of the ladder. "He certainly has come a long way in such a short time," an amused male voice says from behind her.
"He's embraced his heritage like a true Meimeikira Tousan," she replies with motherly pride before turning to look at not only her father but the Leader of their Clan Hiruko Meimeikira only to find the man's eyes dancing with pride and amusement at his youngest grandchild's completion of the Test.
Like all shinobi of the Meimeikira Clan including his daughter beside him Hiruko wore the traditional black leather bodysuit, two-toed slippers, mat-black metal arm and shin guards and black hooded mask with mat-black metal head gear that proudly displayed the Konoha insignia. As was customary of the shinobi of their Clan Hiruko had his mask pulled down revealing his face while within the boundaries of the Clan's Compound. In his right hand is a large brown paper wrapped package tied with simple twine.
He chuckles softly as an excited Naruto comes bounding towards him and his daughter only to come up short at the sight of the imposing figure of his grandfather. "Ojiisan," the boy says bowing respectfully to the Clan Head. "I was unaware that you would be present for my test."
"It's okay Naruto-kun," the man replies warmly before handing the boy the package he had been carrying. "I believe you've earned this," he says smiling as the blonde's eyes light up with uncontained joy.
"Yatta," Naruto exclaims as he happily accepts the present before racing off towards the Main House to change clothes.
"Remind you of anyone," a laughing Hiruko asks his equally amused daughter.
"Hai," Kushina replies blushing slightly. "It must be hereditary," she tells him referring to the fact that all three of her older brothers, her sister Mikoto and herself all acted the same way when each of them successfully completed their own Rights of Apprenticeship.
0o0o0o0o0
One year later an eight year old Naruto Meimeikira enters the Academy for his first day of lessons wearing the traditional shinobi training outfit of his clan which consists of a black spandex bodysuit, black padded arm and shin guards and black two toed slippers. In the time since completing his Right of Apprenticeship Kushina has begun training him in stealth, tracking and observation in addition to the traditional kunai and shuriken training all shinobi require.
Since most of his classmates are still milling around outside the building talking with their friends and family Naruto decides to take a seat at the back of the room so that he can observe the class more easily. Sitting down in the very top right corner of the room he sits quietly waiting for the rest of the class to arrive.
The first to enter the room was a raven haired boy with a pair of onyx eyes that he was fairly familiar with having seen him at numerous events that his mother took him to even before he began his shinobi training. "Been a while itoko," he tells the boy catching his attention.
"Don't tell me they actually let you enter the Academy," the boy replies with a slightly amused smirk.
"I earned the right same as everyone else," Naruto replies folding his hands behind his head while propping his feet up on the desk. "So when are you going to start your training," he asks casually.
"Niisan's been teaching me to throw shurikens and kunais for the past month," the boy replies proudly.
"Not what I meant but I guess it'll do," the blonde says as another student enters the room. A timid girl with short purplish black hair and pupil-less lavender eyes looks at the two boys already in the room shyly uncertain as to how to approach them. "Hyuuga-chan," Naruto says waving her over towards them.
As the girl approaches slowly the dark haired boy slips into a chair just below his cousin sitting backwards in the seat so that he can converse with them more easily. "I'm Sasuke Uchiha," tells the girl as she sits down beside his light haired relative. "And the annoying blonde is my itoko Naruto Meimeikira."
"Meimeikira," the girl gaps remembering the tales told by the members of her own Clan about the Clan of Assassins. "I…I'm…I'm Hin…Hinata…Hinata Hyu…Hinata Hyuuga," she stutters eyeing the boy beside her cautiously for fear of him killing her in her sleep.
"Are you afraid of me Hinata-chan," Naruto inquires noting the young heiress' sudden fear at the mention of his Clan's name.
"N…no…" Hinata lies meekly.
"I know my Clan's reputation," the blonde shinobi in-training tells her kindly. "I can assure you that while most of it is well deserved our code will never allow us to bring harm to a friend or comrade," he informs her. Before their conversation can progress any further the rest of the class begins filtering in followed shortly by their Chunin Instructor.
0o0o0o0o0
For the most part the remainder of Naruto's time at the Academy was rather uneventful with few exceptions. The most important of these being what everyone in the Shinobi World dubbed the Uchiha Massacre midway through his first year at the Academy. In a single night all but three members of the Uchiha Clan were wiped out as one of their own seemingly went insane and in an attempt to seize power tried to slaughter his entire clan only to be killed in the process by the Meimeikira shinobi turned Uchiha Matriarch when she came upon him standing over the body of her husband. Now the once proud Uchiha Clan was reduced to Mikoto Uchiha and her two sons Itachi who was away on a mission and Sasuke who had been out late training.
Another notable if somewhat unfortunate event worth mentioning was the formation of the Sasuke Uchiha Fan-club by the majority of the girls in their class that continually stalked the now brooding young Uchiha survivor. As an almost direct result of the near elimination of his clan and to a lesser extent the constant stalking of his rabid fangirls Sasuke had become far moodier then before and would spend the majority of his time either brooding or training his body into the ground.
Outside of the classroom Naruto's training continued to progress as he advanced through the tiers of the tower earning the right to train in the next level of his Clan's chosen Art. In four years he had managed to complete the first five of the tower's ten tiers and as a result was granted the rights of a First Level Shinobi Assassin among the Ranks of the Meimeikira Shinobi.
0o0o0o0o0
On the first day of his final year at the Academy Naruto lays flat against the ceiling of the classroom with his hands behind his head hidden under a simple concealment Genjutsu watching the rest of his class slowly filter into the room below him. Out of the twenty-six other students in his class only two show any signs of having noticed his presence as they make their way to their to their seats.
Shino Aburame, heir of the Aburame Clan, looks up at the seemingly empty ceiling as he makes his way through the aisle to his seat. Kiba Inuzuka and his nin-dog Akamaru look around the room on their way to their chair in the back seemingly trying to sniff out the oddly familiar scent. As Iruka enters the room he looks around and notices that the familiar blonde in the far right of his classroom is not there.
Taking attendance he calls out the names of the students in his class only to hear the cries of wither "Here" or "Present" as each name is called out. Soon he comes to the one name that he was sure wouldn't answer as he calls out the name. "Naruto Meimeikira," the scarred Chunin says certain of the lack of response only to be surprised when he hears an unexpected reply.
"Here," a disembodied voice calls out. As everyone in the room except Shino begins looking around for the owner of the voice a soft chuckle is heard above them. "Up here," the voice tells them as its owner allows the Genjutsu to fall away. A now laughing figure lies on the ceiling shocking everyone excluding the Aburame heir. The stranger is clad from head to toe in all black leather with a cloth mask concealing its hair and face with mat-black metal arm and shin guards and two toed slippers. At its hips are black weapons pouches on each side with a black kunai holster on each thigh.
The figure drops to the floor landing in a crouching position without making the slightest sound before slowly rising to its feet while removing its entire mask. Once the mask is removed the grinning face of one Naruto Meimeikira greets the shocked face of Iruka. Naruto moves to his proper seat passing his scowling cousin along the way only to shake his head sadly at his itoko. Although Sasuke and Naruto had never been particularly close in the past they have grown apart since that fateful night and while at first Naruto had tried to help his cousin through the hard times Sasuke's cold reception had convinced the young Meimeikira to simply give up on the other boy.
0o0o0o0o0
Outside the Academy the class gathered around the sparring ring so that their Instructors could gauge their progress in Taijutsu. In the hopes of livening things up a little Mizuki had the bright idea to pit the youngest surviving Uchiha against his Meimeikira cousin. The result was not what he or anyone else, even a genius like Shikamaru, could have predicted.
"Whenever you're ready itoko," Naruto says assuming a defensive stance after putting his mask back on.
"Don't talk down to me like I'm some kind of kid," Sasuke replies assuming the traditional Taijutsu stance of the Uchiha Clan that Itachi has been teaching him.
"I wasn't…" Naruto begins before sighing, "Forget it." Sasuke begins his assault with a series of punches to Naruto's face which the masked boy easily avoids followed up by a barrage kicks to the body easily blocked by the metal of Naruto's arm guards.
"Why don't you fight me," Sasuke demands as he picks up the speed and intensity of his attack only to find each punch or kick either blocked or simply avoided.
"Why do you want to fight me so badly," Naruto asks choosing to stay on the defensive.
"I need to get stronger," Sasuke almost growls. "And I can't do that unless you fight back."
"Why do you want to be stronger," his cousin asks still refusing to actually fight the other boy.
"To prove that the Uchiha's are still the strongest Clan in Konoha," Sasuke snaps, "To show everyone that the Uchiha name still means something."
Naruto steps to the side allowing Sasuke to go sailing right past him and plow face first into the ground. "You're not still on that stupid trip are you," he asks ripping his mask of to speak to his cousin face to face. "For Kami's sake itoko get over it," he tells him. "It's been what two and a half years? I mean shit even Itachi and Mikoto-obasan have moved on. Why can't you?"
"I can't move on until I've restored our Clan's honor," Sasuke growls dusting himself off as he stands back up. "And I can't do that unless I become stronger," he almost snarls as he charges at Naruto again.
Naruto doesn't even bother to move as Sasuke lashes out with a punch to his face. Instead he turns his head to the side allowing the fist to fly harmlessly past his left ear before lashing out with his right foot right between the Uchiha's legs. Sasuke's eye bug out as pain courses through his entire body from the low blow inflicted by his own family member. As he falls to his knees clutching his crotch Naruto squats down in front of him. "Apples and Oranges will never equal Bananas," he tells his cousin before standing back up and walking away.
0o0o0o0o0
On his way home from the Academy Naruto is stopped by his cousin just outside his Clan's Compound. "What the hell did you mean by Apples and Oranges will never equal Bananas," the raven haired cousin demands.
"Just that," Naruto replies. "You Uchihas prided yourselves on being the best soldiers, the best at Ninjutsu and Genjutsu," he reminds the other boy. "We Meimeikiras pride ourselves on being the best Assassins. The best at avoiding detection and disappearing without a trace so to compare the two is like comparing Apples to Oranges. It just doesn't work. Just like you trying to use me to measure your strength doesn't work. If you're looking for someone to measure your growth as a shinobi against then find someone else because you'll never measure up to me in my chosen path just like I'll never measure up to you in yours."
"Apples and Oranges will never equal Bananas," Sasuke whispers to himself but it's loud enough for Naruto to still hear.
"Exactly," the blonde replies as he continues on and heads inside the gates. "In case you're interested," he adds stopping for a moment. "You might want to congratulate Itachi on finally completing the tenth tier of the tower," he tells the other boy. "So far he's the only non-Meimeikira to do so and the only ANBU to make it past the eighth tier." With that he continues towards the training ground for his after school lessons.
0o0o0o0o0
A/N: And Cut… I know it might have seemed a little short but honestly I just needed to get the basics out of the way before the real story begins. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far and as always please remember to read and review.
Later
Raven