chapter 3

DDCD: DDCD here with another chapter of Shinigami's Champion. I hope you guys and girls are enjoying the story so far. Also today we have a special guest. My personal favorite character CHOJI AKIMICHI!

Choji: Hey guys how's it goin'? *eating chips*

DDCD: So Choji how do you like the story so far?

Choji: Well, it's coming along nicely and from what I see the next chapter is going to be done by tomorrow night. I heard you're going to include team seven's first mission, is that true?

DDCD: Damn straight. Now on with the story! Choji take it away!

Choji Dark Dragon of Chaos and Death owns nothing of Naruto of Naruto Shippuden.

Naruto smiled happily with his new hitai-ate tied to his head as he walked to Ichiraku's for a bowl of his favorite ramen.

Naruto felt proud of himself and although he was sure he could pass the exam, there was the possibility he would have to perform the academy's normal Bunshin no Jutsu.

'Well, that went very well didn't it?' Naruto thought to his tenant. 'I have to agree on that naruto-kun, however, be careful. I feel something strange in the air tonight.' Kyu stated cautiously. Heeding the warning Naruto paid a bit more attention to his surroundings.

Arriving at Ichiraku's Naruto sat down before ordering. "Oi, Old man get me a large bowl of the usual," Naruto called out to the older chef.

"Welcome back Naruto, I take it you passed the exam today?" Teuchi Ichiraku greeted his favorite customer.

"You bet, just you wait for it old man. Give me a few years and I'll be Hokage in no time." Naruto puffed his chest out in pride before he noticed his teacher Mizuki walking be with a contemplative look on the bluenette's face.

"Hey Mizuki-sensei, what's wrong? It looks like your thinking really hard about something." Naruto remarked trying to get his teacher to brighten up.

Mizuki saw the chance to possibly have his plan to take place and replied, "Well Naruto I'm trying to figure out which one of you new graduates to give an extra credit assignment. Say, would you be interested?"

Naruto not having much to do nodded his head before inhaling his ramen, paying his bill, and running off with Mizuki.

-Naruto's apartment/ twenty minutes later-

"Kaa-chan I'm back. Also, Ino-chan and Hinata-chan will be here soon." Naruto announced before walking to the bathrooms he could shower before the upcoming events.

As Naruto stepped out of the shower he looked in the mirror and peered into a strange sight. Sitting next to his close was Shinako patiently waiting. "Shinako-chan what are you doing in here?" Naruto asked embarrassed.

"Well Naruto you've come a long way, and I hope you haven't forgotten our agreement. after all, it has been almost a year since our last conversation." Shinako stated with a smirk giving the blonde boy a once over.

"Of course not Shinako-chan. When do we start training?" Naruto asked excitement shining through his eyes. "We'll start soon enough. Before we can start a ritual will have to take place, but it seems that your guests have arrived until next time Naruto-Kun." Shinako departed never noticing the suffix she added to Naruto's name.

Quickly getting dressed Naruto emerged from the bathroom, and made his to the kitchen were the three most important women in his life were gathered.

"Kaa-chan I think dinner will have to wait. Something big is going to happen, and I plan to put a stop to it." Naruto commented after greeting his best friends." what do you mean Naruto-Kun?" Ino spoke before anyone else.

"Mizuki-sensei is up to something. He wants me to sneak into the Hokage Tower and steal the Forbidden Scroll," Naruto responded. "For now I'll play along with him. I need to get to his actual motives. He said it was for 'extra-credit', but what kind of assignment is stealing the Forbidden Scroll?" Naruto sighed and headed to the window.

"Naru-Kun, do you think we should come with you? I mean what if Mizuki has accomplices?" Kushina asked concerned for her son's safety. "I'll be fine Kaa-chan. I'll be back before you know it." Naruto declared before jumping to the next building heading towards the Hokage Tower.

"W-We should s-still go after N-Naruto-Kun," Hinata spoke up breaking the unnerving silence that filled the room. Nothing else was said as the three kunoichis dashed towards the Hokage Tower.

As Naruto arrived at the Hokage Tower he stopped to look around and formulate his game plan. 'Kyu-chan how do you think we should do this?' Naruto asked his furry tenant. 'That window on the third floor looks like it's open. That's your entry point, and you know what to do after that.' Kyu replied with a slight nod of her head, not that Naruto could see it anyway.

With his plan set Naruto scaled the side of the building, and climbed through the open window. Checking to make sure there was no one in the room Naruto silently dropped to the floor before making his way to the Hokage's office.

Quickly looking for and grabbing the Forbidden Scroll, Naruto made his escape dashing for the location Mizuki indicated as the meeting spot.

Naruto didn't take notice of the three shadowy figures following him into the forest. Naruto slowed down seeing the small shack Mizuki told him to wait until he arrived earlier.

"Might as well see what makes this thing so important," Naruto said opening the large scroll. "Let's see. The Bunshin Bakuha(Exploding Clone), that may be useful." Naruto commented while writing the seals required for the justu.

Hearing someone coming towards him Naruto closed the scroll and turned around just as Iruka burst through the trees. "Hey Iruka-sensei, how's it going?" The blonde cheerily asked the older male. "Naruto what were you thinking stealing the Forbidden Scroll from the Hokage Tower!?" Iruka yelled neither of the two noticing three pairs of eyes watching them from the tree-line.

"Mizuki-sensei said that if I could steal the scroll, and bring it here I would be promoted to a special genin," Naruto stated.

'So Mizuki put him up to this. If he did then where is he? It's been almost two hours since the scroll was reported missing.' Iruka thought to himself.

Before Iruka could finish his train of thought the should of something cutting through the air penetrated his ears.

Thinking quickly Iruka pushed Naruto to the ground with his own body just as a large Fuma shuriken passed over their heads.

"So you found out about my little plan Iruka? Well, it doesn't matter anyway. Both you and the demon-brat will die here today, and I'll have the scroll to get me into the good grace of Orochimaru-Sama." Mizuki said with a maniacal laugh.

In the trees, Hinata and Ino looked on in confusion.

'What does Mizuki-sensei mean by a demon?' was a shared thought. Kushina gritted her teeth wanting to attack the man but held herself back since she knew Naruto would want to test waited to see what else Mizuki would say, but seeing he was more focused on laughing decided to ask a question.

"What do you mean demon-brat? I'm not a demon." Naruto said getting Mizuki's attention. "Oh yes how could I forget the law the Third put in place. You see Naruto ten years ago the Kyuubi attacked the village, but the Fourth couldn't kill it. Instead, he sealed it into a baby. That baby was you Naruto! You're the Kyuubi Naruto!" Mizuki cackled ignoring Iruka's attempts to get him to keep his mouth shut.

While the information didn't faze Naruto it did have an effect on two of the kunoichi that hid in the trees. 'Naruto's a demon? There's no way he could be a demon. Demons can't have feelings right?' Both Ino and Hinata thought to themselves unsure about the new information. Kushina saw the two younger girls shifting uncomfortably and placed a hand on their shoulders in a show of support. "I'll explain it all later. For now, just trust Naruto," the red-head spoke softly to the younger girls.

On the battlefield, Naruto and Iruka were dodging the shuriken that Mizuki had thrown in hopes of catching the two off guard.

"I already knew about the Kyuubi long before now Mizuki. It wasn't Kyu-chan's fault she attacked the village she was controlled at the time." Naruto shouted at Mizuki making the man falter.

"See Iruka the demon has taken over the boy's mind feeding him lies," Mizuki said to Iruka hoping to make the brown-haired man turn on his student. Mizuki would have continued talking, but he was cut off by Naruto's fist slamming into his face.

"The Kyuubi may be a demon, but I know Naruto better than that. I may have resented him at first, but he's grown on me and showed me that there's no way he could be the demon that attacked the village!" Iruka yelled stunning Naruto before he refocused.

Forming a cross with the index and middle fingers of his hands Naruto called out, "Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Multiple copies of our blonde hero converged on Mizuki to pummel the chunin, or at least they would have if he didn't rapidly dispel the clones.

Seeing his clones being rapidly dispelled naruto knew he had to act fast. 'Damn I guess I have to use it now,' Naruto thought before forming handsigns and calling out "Bunshin Bakuha!" All at once the remaining clones expanded and exploded leaving a bleeding Mizuki laying in the ruined landscape.

Picking up the traitorous chunin Iruka turned to Naruto. "Well, Naruto we have to go to Hokage-Sama. Are you ready?" Iruka asked the younger boy who nodded and followed Iruka out of the forest.

"Kushina-chan is it true? Is Naruto-Kun really the Kyuubi?" Ino spoke for both herself and Hinata. The two newly minted genin sat in front of Kushina after returning to Naruto's apartment. "No, Naruto is not the Kyuubi. the fox is sealed into Naruto, but they are two separate entities." Kushina clarified walking to the table with a scroll and kunai. "What are these two objects?" Kushina asked.

"A scroll and a k-kunai, but what does this have to do with N-Naruto-Kun?" Hinata questioned voicing the mutual thought shared with Ino. Kushina sealed the kunai into the scroll before continuing.

"Now is this a kunai or a scroll?" Kushina focused on the looks of realization that crossed both of the younger women's faces. "It's still an s-scroll even though the kunai is sealed within it. S-So Naruto-Kun isn't the K-Kyuubi, it's just sealed inside of him." Hinata concluded.

Kushina nodded her head before saying, "Now that you know this you have to understand that it is still an SS-rank secret and is punishable by death if you tell anyone else about this. The Third put the law in place in hopes that Naruto could have a slightly normal life. Naru-kun will need your support with this even if he doesn't say it. so what will you two do?" Ino and Hinata exchanged looks with each other and turned to Kushina.

"We'll do our best to support Naruto-Kun," both girls exclaimed in unison causing Kushina to smile. Unknown to the younger woman Naruto had already returned to the apartment in the middle of the sensed the boy's return, but said nothing instead, looking towards the hallway where he stood. "Now, you two girls head home. Naruto will you walk them home please?" Kushina alerted the other occupants that Naruto had returned.

"But Kaa-chan we haven't even had dinner yet," Naruto whined. "I agree Kushina-chan we did come to celebrate our passing of the genin exams. I'm sure my parents would be ok with me staying the night if it's not troubling you," Ino smiled brightly while flashing puppy eyes to the Uzumaki matriarch. However, Hinata sulked in the corner knowing she wouldn't be allowed the same luxury as Ino. While Hinata's father Hiashi tolerated Naruto because of the wonders the boy did for her confidence, the Hyuga clan head still held a form of resentment for anyone who wasn't a Hyuga.

"Hinata-chan? What's wrong?" Naruto asked completely oblivious to the Hyuga's way of thinking. "O-Oh it's nothing N-Naruto-Kun," Hinata tried to wave the blonde's attention away from her in hope that it wouldn't affect the mood in the apartment. "Well I guess it's alright with me, but it is up to Naru-kun since you are his guests," Kushina snickered at seeing Ino's hopeful eyes turn towards the only other blonde in the room. "Pleeeeaseeee Na-Ru-To-Kun," Ino drawled out each syllable of Naruto's name making the boy shiver slightly.

Naruto sighed in defeat before nodding his head that Ino could stay for the night before turning to Hinata who had a large rain cloud above her head. "Well, I guess we should get you home before Hiashi gets upset." Naruto sighed. Besides Hinata, it seemed that everyone in the Hyuga clan had a stick up their asses, and Naruto couldn't for the life of him figure out a way to get around it. The Hyuga who seemed to be the most unreasonable was a close tie between Hiashi and his nephew, Neji Hyuga. "Sure Naruto-Kun," Hinata said following Naruto out the door with an even bigger rain cloud hovering above her head.

"So Ino, when are you going to tell him?" Kushina suddenly asked confusing the girl in question. "W-Whatever do you mean Kushina-chan," Ino fumbled over her wording trying her best to look innocent. Ino knew the older woman was asking about the feeling she harbored for Naruto, but she couldn't bring herself to tell the boy because she knew Hinata felt the same for the object of her desire. "I'm a mother Ino. There isn't much that can be hidden from me. Now again I ask. When are you going to tell him?" Kushina pressed on trying to get the girl to spill her inner secrets. Seeing no way around the conversation Ino grumbled before she answered.

"I would tell him, but it would be completely unfair to Hinata-chan. I don't want this to come between our friendship," Ino looked off into space deep in thought. Turning to make a quick dinner of rice, salmon, and vegetables Kushina let the girl think knowing they would continue later. 'If only she knew how Naruto felt about them both.' Kushina thought to herself.

With Naruto and Hinata

Naruto and Hinata took to the rooftops towards the Hyuga compound. "Naruto-Kun, can I ask you something?" Hinata suddenly asked while stopping on top of a random building. "You just did," Naruto said in a teasing tone with a grin plastered on his face making Hinata sweatdrop. "You know you can be very dense at times Naruto-Kun," Kyu said while laying in the open field that Naruto changed the mindscape to on her request. 'Oi, I'm not that dense...am I?' Naruto asked himself before cutting the connection and focusing on Hinata. "Sure Hinata-chan you can ask me anything," the blonde said giving the girl his full attention.

"Ano... w-what are your f-feelings towards me?" Hinata asked her voice just barely audible. Tilting his head to the side Naruto looked intently at the girl before him. Grateful that Kyu chooses this time to keep silent Naruto smiled at Hinata. 'I wondered when she or Ino would make their move,' the blonde thought before deciding to tease the girl a little. "Well, I feel... I don't know how I feel I've always leaned more towards actions than words," Naruto stated with a smile before taking a step towards Hinata noticing the blush creeping its way up to her face. "Oi, are you sick? Your face is all red Hinata-chan." the blonde said pressing his hand against her forehead which caused the girl to panic and faint.

'I guess I went a little overboard, eh Kyu-chan?' Naruto reached out to the entity within himself. 'You should have known this would happen the girl has always had this problem whenever you tease her. Just hurry and take her home I'm going to sleep,' Kyu responded and closed her eyes after Naruto hoisted the Hyuga heiress onto his back. Arriving at the Hyuga compound shortly after the incident that caused Hinata to faint Naruto knock and waited for one of the guards to come before handing Hinata over. Luckily for Naruto the guard that came to answer was generally nice to the boy on several occasions, or else he'd be questioned on what he was doing with the unconscious heiress.

Naruto swiftly bowed and left to return back to his home. Climbing through an open window Naruto was struck by a pan resulting in a large bump forming on top of his head. "How many times do I have to tell you to use the door Sochi?" Kushina glared at the cowering boy. "Sorry, Kaa-chan. I'll remember next time. It's not like I enjoy getting hit with a pan by a crazy lady anyway." Naruto said the last part lowly hoping Kushina wouldn't hear it. Unfortunately for him the older Uzumaki did and proceeded to chase the boy around with the pan yelling curses and asking 'Who's a crazy lady!?'

Ino giggled as she watched the scene unfold, and Naruto begged her to help him. Once the mother and son calmed down they sat at the table to eat. Dinner was a silent affair, but after the conversation turned to who slept where. Naruto had recently bought a futon for when he had a guest and volunteered to use it. However, Kushina was working on a plan to get Ino or Naruto to confess to the other. Taking the futon from Naruto's hands Kushina proposed they all just share the larger bed, and the thought of sharing the bed with two women left Naruto a babbling mess. "K-Kaa-chan y-you can't b-be serious r-right?" Naruto asked nervously to which his mother nodded her head and dragged him onto the bed.

Kushina's plan quickly fell apart when Naruto fainted from embarrassment and retreated into his mindscape. "Damn why does Kaa-chan have to tease me so much," Naruto said to himself before turning to Kyu who was snickering. "Why are you laughing? You find this funny don't you?" Naruto fired off questions as he stalked towards Kyu with his hair shadowing his eyes. Before Kyu could react Naruto pounced on her form before tickling her sides. "Ahhhh s-stop N-Naruto-Kun!" Kyu yelled in between laughs and tried to push the Blonde off of her body. After a while, Naruto removed himself from Kyu and grinned.

"That'll teach you to laugh at my pain dattebayo." Naruto turned around not noticing Kyu standing up slowly with a menacing look on her face. "Oh Na-Ru-To I believe you have forgotten just how ticklish you are yourself," Kyu stated before making her moving and leaping at the boy. The two continued to go back and forth tickling each other until they eventually fell asleep entangled in the arms of the other.

/Team assignment day/

All the genin who passed the exam were gathered in their old homeroom class in the academy as were Iruka's instructions. Ino and Hinata conversed while Naruto sat wonder who he'd be paired with. 'Kami anyone but Sakura. I'll take Sasuke-teme before I'd take Sakura.' Naruto silently prayed to himself and any god that would listen.

Just as he focused on his surroundings again Naruto noticed Ino and Hinata staring at him with blushes lightly covering their faces. Iruka walked into the class and after getting the genin's attention began a speech about what it meant to be a shinobi for the village and how proud he was to have taught them all. Naruto tuned it out until Iruka started to name off the teams.

"Team one will consist of (A/N: Teams 1-6 aren't important so I'll skip them. Back to the story!) Team seven will be Hinata Hyuga, Ino Yamanaka, and...Naruto Uzumaki. Your jonin sensei will be Kutenai Yuhi." Iruka said and was going to continue until Naruto burst from his seat thanking the gods for granting him his wish which confused everyone. clearing his throat Iruka continued, "Team eight will be Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and... Shino Aburame. Your join sensei is Kakashi Hatake " Iruka was once again interrupted by Sakura yelling "Love rules over all!"

The constant interruptions made a vein pulse on the back of Iruka's head, but he simply sighed and named the other teams. "Team nine is still in rotation. So team ten will be Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, and Kiba Inuzuka. Jonin sensei Asuma Sarutobi. You are free for lunch but be back before two o'clock when your jonin sensei will come to get you. Once again it's been an honor to teach you all. Go far in this world and remember that the Will of Fire burns brightly within each of you!" With that statement, Iruka left the room along with many of the turned to his teammates, and as if they could read his mind they spoke, "Yes Naruto we can go get some Ichiraku."