Apprentice of the trickster– Chapter three: Eternal Dread

Summary: Life is looking good for Naruto, his prankster side appears and he is thoroughly enjoying life at the academy, but is there something more to it?

Author: Adameia Kirantro

Rated k+: no cussing, or innuendos or pairings, has minor violence

Disclaimer: I did not create, and do not own the characters from Naruto, They are owned by Masashi Kishimoto, and I may borrow them for your possible and hopeful enjoyment. But I DO own Sheikka, she is mine so do not steal.
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Author's Note: Dear readers, I am sorry for taking so long to post I've been really busy lately and hope to make it up to you by posting the first chapter of a gag fic that I'll do in my spare time, and you guys like it I'll put a little more priority to it than whenever I feel like I have the time, thanks for bearing with me and thanks for your support now on to the chapter! ~A.K.

From our previous chapter…

After a few minutes a spark lit his eyes "thanks… it means a lot to have your approval O-nee Chan" he finally said, with obvious joy in his eyes as he smiled his foxy grin at me from across the table. –Now, I'll have more on my plate if he's not to embarrass my self if my evaluation of his future teacher's possible actions suggest…–

Chapter three: Eternal dread

–Three months later–

"HAHAHAHAHA! If you think you're going to catch me then you have another thing coming!" a certain blond yelled as he gleefully navigated intricate paths throughout the hidden ninja village known as Konoha, with three very irritated ninja's chasing him. After viciously turning several corners, sky blue eyes twinkled with mischief as the boy named Naruto initiated the last part of his plan that would most likely keep him from getting caught for his latest prank… namely coating the inside of a few academy classrooms (and the few unfortunate teachers who happened to be in there when his time released prank was set off) in bright neon orange very hard to remove paint. As he was about to use a kawarimi with a pre-placed hidden prop, he was suddenly sent face first to meet the ground below him, the loud *SMACK* practically echoed down the empty alley. He soon got up and rubbed the back of his head as he said, "Owww, what was that for Nee-san?" the whine in his voice dripped from his words as he glared daggers (or tried to) at the red-headed girl who had sent him face first into the ground just moments before, as she just looked down at him with unsympathetic ice-blue eyes, only a small quirk of the corner of her mouth showed her amusement.

"We-ell, Naru-Chan!" she said in a false-sweet with a sly wink then continued, " like I always told ya… paybacks a brat ain't she?" she finished, drawing the sides of her mouth up into a feral, mischievous grin, a slightly evil gleam lit up her eyes to further accentuate the look. "I'm going to leave now… so have fun with Iruka!" she cheered, and with a final wave (and a wink) she vanished from where she stood, the only evidence that she was there at all was the slightly disturbed dirt and that was only seen if you had really good eyes and you knew what to look for in the first place. Just like the Changeling Sheikka had promised, only moments later found Naruto being dragged off by the academy teacher known as Iruka Umino.

I chuckled as I watched Iruka drag the fuming Naruto off to punish him for his latest prank. –Little does that school teacher know is that his "accomplishing" feat of catching my Otouto was only possible because of my involvement in the matter, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him and it's not like i MIND that he's getting credit for being able to catch Naruto… Oooh, how I love getting back at Naruto. Mostly for his desperately lacking attempts at pranking me, and I repeat, ATTEMPTS, at pranking ME, but that's beside the point, he may need the practice against people of higher skill to get better, but it doesn't mean that i can't have fun returning fire. – I mused to myself letting a smirk stretch on my face. Soon the fun in watching died and I teleported back to the place I now call home to finish what I was previously doing, (before I intervened with Naruto's almost escape from punishment) as I waited for Naruto (or Naru-Chan! As I like to call him when i tease) to finally come back chuckling a little all the time, – he definitely is Improving, I've got to give him that– I thought as I mused over and analyzed his latest prank in my head.

I closed my book with a sigh and looked up as I heard the door get opened by Naruto's entry as he arrived back after his forced punishment. "Hey there kiddo! Have fun?" I teased, letting a full smirking grin spread over my face as I saw him deciding whether to grin happily or to glare daggers at me (again). Eventually the grinning side won and he stretched his usual fox like grin that threatened to split his face as he agreed with my question, of course his thoughts would return to the free ramen he "coxed" his academy teacher to get him. Of course I wasn't going to waste a good opportunity to push some buttons so I did just that. "Aww well, maybe next time I'll add something to your prank to make it worse or maybe even more noticeable, or… even better, I'll tell Iruka anonymously when your about to do a prank, so you can have more of that "fun" that you seem to be enjoying so thoroughly right now.." I trailed off giving him a viscous smirk as I watched his reaction with an amused twinkle in my eyes. He seemed flabbergasted at my first Idea but the look of horror that spread over his face as my full musings registered in his brain was priceless… as was him going pale with shock.

"You wouldn't… would you?" he asked the shock still ever present as he thought over the idea I presented. I just smirked and folded my arms over my chest as I gave him a look that all but said, 'you know I so would, you should know that by now' and his eyes widened drastically in a comical anime-ish way…–if this keeps up, I don't think I can keep myself from giving in to my urge to ROFL (roll on the floor laughing) much longer.. – I thought as I watched emotions and memories play across his face as he truly realized that I most likely would do what I had mentioned… because I had done it before. After more eye twitching and him cringing randomly as memories flowed like a river in his minds eye I just couldn't help myself any longer and I caved to my temptation, and I seemed to snap him from the past as I unceremoniously fell with my chair backwards onto the floor and continued to laugh and roll on the floor in a comic like away as he switched from a horrified daze to glaring daggers at and (unfortunately for his attempt) for my amusement, but eventually I wheezed to a stop and I picked myself up from the floor and gave him my serious look.

"Well now, enough fun, we both know that your REAL punishment is coming, I know that your cunning side comes from your parents, (don't even think about asking) and the fox or as some would call it "your furry little problem… but it was encouraged from me and my trickster tendencies rubbing off on you since we interact a lot. So you ended up doing pranks in your spare time, time which you should be worried about that ninja school of yours… I mean if you're not serious about being a ninja you might as well leave the program, so you decide, and hop to it and either prepare to leave, or go train/study ok? And I'll be in the kitchen if you want to ask me anything, but don't think I ain't watching you..." I finished with a warning glare and headed toward the kitchen to make dinner. –what am I going to do with that kid– I thought with a sigh, shaking my head as I remembered our time in this place that we both now call home.

Time passed and I continued to prod and help him keep focused as he continued on his path as a Shinobi of the leaf and soon his four years are up and its time for the Genin exams.

"YAHWW" Naruto yawned as he stretched in his seat, his arms reaching towards the ceiling as he waited for Iruka to start the day, – today's the day! Finally the Genin exams I know that I can pass! – thought Naruto excitedly with his normal foxy grin plastered on his face as he sat at the back of the class. A while later found him completing the written, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu tests and he waited patiently for his name to be called for the Ninjutsu test, his bail since he was pretty sure he didn't do too well on the others(no thanks to the undermining of hatefull teachers), maybe the Taijutsu was better than he could have been, but that was mostly thanks to his adoptive older sister. "Naruto Uzumaki please step into the exam room."

–I failed…– were the dejected thoughts that ran through my head as I sat on a swing outside the Ninja Academy, my head lowered watching those that passed get congratulated by their parents out of the corner of my eye… I had hoped to pass and maybe be on the same ninja team/squad as that overly exuberant Rock Lee, he seemed like someone I could be friends with despite the fact that I am known as the "dead last" because of my class grade standings… which was not completely my fault, it seemed like all the teachers but Iruka-Sensei were trying to sabotage my schoolwork and my ability to learn. I probably would have had a much harder time learning what i needed if i didn't have access to Sheikka's Library. I brooded there for a while, avoiding going home to where I knew that Sheikka-Chan was going to be mad at me for slacking off and failing, as well as not getting help from her... I knew that she wasn't going to let me fail a second time... And I'd rather not face her if I were to… I internally winced as that idea passed through my thoughts, –just what am I going to do now? Well I guess I should probably head on home... She's bound to figure it out and hunt me down anyway, just better get it over with… Ohh this isn't going to be fun that's for sure... – I thought cringing at the "training" I was going to go through as punishment for not training myself enough, I knew enough from her threats to know to dread the experience.

Author's note: from here on the fun starts (inset mischievous grin here), if you haven't guessed instead of him failing the Genin exams twice before he's in the class his own age I had him enter only one year ahead of his class mates and future Rookie nine.. But no more spoilers for now! Thx for your time! i hope you continue to enjoy my fic!