Chapter 2: Final Exam

The ninja academy was one of the more prominent buildings in Konoha. It was situated under the four Hokage faces carved into the mountain behind the village. Naruto stopped outside the academy and looked up at the faces. Looking at the image of the Third put a small smile on his face. When his eyes drifted to the image of the Fourth his smile turned to a scowl.

"It's your fault everyone hates me," he said in a low voice. Naruto had despised the Fourth since the day he learned what he did to him. "If you had only let the Fox kill this village, then I wouldn't have had to live like this." The Fox for her part remained silent and left Naruto alone with his hate.

Walking inside the academy Naruto made his way to his class room. Entering the room he notice only half the students where there. Among them was Sasuke who had taken up a place in his usual spot in the corner seat near the front of the room. As usual he was being surrounded by the girls of the class who constantly vied for his attention. Chief among the fangirls were the pink haired Sakura and the long haired blond Ino. Naruto always did his best to avoid them, especially Sasuke.

In Narutos eyes Sasuke was dangerous. He knew about what happened to his clan, the Uchihas, and what had been done to him. It was only rumor but word had it that after Sasukes brother, Ithachi, had murdered every member of the clan, including his own parents, he was able to make his little brother relive the massacre over and over. Something like that would have deep and long lasting psychological damage. Even if the story was not true having your entire family wiped out by your brother has got to fuck you up in some way. Naruto could feel that something was just not right about Sasuke so did his best to avoid him.

Climbing up the steps Naruto made his way to his normal seat on the opposite side of the room. None of the other students paid any attention to him. He found out long ago that none of them wanted to have anything to do with him so Naruto sat alone. He was fine with that. In his mind they were just digging their graves that much deeper. He never did anything to try and get their acceptance. He was not the best student in class nor was he the worst. He just did enough to be average and get by unnoticed. It would not be good if people knew he was stronger then he let on. Let people underestimate him and they will leave him alone more.

"I'm so glad that this will be the last time I ever have to sit with these people," he thought to the Fox. "Just need to get through the final exam and then team assignment and I'm out of here." Just then there was a small eruption of laughter from the fangirls in the corner of the room. "Why are all the girls in here morons?"

"Hahahaha," laughed the Fox. "Not all of them are hopeless son. Take a look over your shoulder."

Naruto slowly turned his head around to look back over his left shoulder. Two rows further back and in the center set of desks sat Hinata. Her pearl colored eyes were he most striking feature, a trade mark of the Hyuga blood line. Once she saw Naruto turn his head and look right at her Hinatas face immediately became flush and she cast her head down staring at her desk all the while pressing her fingers together as she fidgeted with them in her seat.

"Why does she always do that every time I look at her?" he asked while he turned his head back around. The Fox shook her head trying not to laugh at the utter cluelessnes of her son. "But your right. She never fauns over Sasuke and for the reason alone I have more respect for her then anyone else in this room."

The rest of the students soon arrived eager to get on with things. As if on cue Iruka-sensei entered the room. He stood at the front of the room with a big smile on his face. It was obvious he was very proud of his students. There was little to say. They all knew what they had to do and there were many students to get through.

"Ok class, I'm glad to see you have all made it on time," he began to say. "Today we will have the final exam on the clone jutsu. When your name is called please proceed to the next room."

The tests were being conducted in alphabetical order so Naruto had to wait a while for his name to be called. When it was he made his way to the next room ready. Despite everything he could not help but feel a little nervous. He thought it was silly but could not shake this feeling. Once in the next room he saw Iruka-sensei and Mizuki-sensei were seated behind a desk.

"Ok Naruto," Iruka said with a smile. "When ever you're ready."

"You got this Naruto," the Fox said giving her son some last second encouragement.

Naruto shook his head in response to both things said to him. He closed his eye and let out slow breath feeling his chakra moving. Making the appropriate signs. "Clone Jutsu!"

In a puff of smoke three mirror images of Naruto appeared next to him.

Irukas smile got even bigger at the sight of the clones standing next to Naruto. "Congratulations Naruto, you graduate."

"I knew you had this," the Fox chimed in.

For his part Naruto could not help but break out in a giant self congratulatory grin. It was silly he knew. It was a simple jutsu he had mastered long ago. But getting it right would change his life so the pressure was hard to shake. But now it was over, he had done it. He felt really good. That feeling wouldn't last long.

Soon the exams were over. Everyone had passed. They were all gathered outside patting themselves on the back and celebrating with their families. Naruto sat on a swing, hanging from a nearby tree, alone. Save for the Fox he had no one. He had no mother or father to hug and tell him how proud they were of him. No friends to celebrate with. He hated their smiling faces.

"Um-ah . . . n. . .Naruto?" came a low stuttering voice from behind him. Naruto was so lost in his own thoughts that he never sensed Hinata coming up to him. He looked up at her. Hinata was still fidgeting with her fingers and not looking him directly in the eye.

"Oh, hi Hinata," he finally said to her. "What are you doing over here?"

"I ah…just wanted to congratulate you on passing."

"Oh, wow, um, yeah thanks. You too." She smiled when he said that. Nothing made her happier then Naruto noticing her. She could even feel herself start to relax a little. "Hey Hinata, how come your not over there with your family like everyone else?"

Her smile faded quickly when he asked her that.

"My father didn't come. He is a very busy man." She tried to defend him. She didn't want to it just came out. Then she let the real truth out. "He said that it was simply expected of me to pass. That it was nothing special."

That was only part of the truth. What he really had said was that it was no big deal graduating from the academy and it was simply expected of her to do so. But that it would also not be any surprise if she had failed. Failure is something he had to expect from her.

The Fox could see the sadness in her eyes. She had seen it many times in Naruto. They were both very much alike she concluded. Even though she has a family her family wished they did not have her. "Naruto, invite her to the party," the Fox told him.

"What party?" Naruto thought back to her.

"The one tonight, for you, at the ramen bar."

"Oh that one."

"Idiot."

"Hey."

"Just ask her. Now!"

"Hinata, there is this sort of party at Ichiraku Ramen Bar tonight. I was wondering if, that is if you're not busy, if you would like to go." Just then Hinata stopped moving. She looked as if she had stopped breathing. Her face became as red as a tomato. Naruto became worried. "Hinata are you ok?"

"Oh, um, y. . . yes I'm fine," she finally seemed to come back to reality. "If your sure you want m . . .me to come."

"Great. I'll see you there at 6 tonight. Make sure you bring an empty stomach and get it ready for the best food in the world."

Naruto stood up from the swing. He smiled at Hinata and then leaped up the tree and then onto the nearest roof. He was soon running across town feeling good again. The other students and their families forgotten.

"This is great," came the Fox interrupting the quiet of his mind. "What a day. You had your first kiss and now you're going on your first date. My little boy is growing up."

Naruto was completely caught off guard by what was just said. He forgot what he was doing and promptly slammed into the side of a wall. He sat up waiting for the stars to clear from his vision. "IT'S NOT A DATE!"

"Hahahaha, oh silly Naruto. You have so much to learn still."

Before he could respond and question what she meant by that Naruto sensed someone suddenly appear near by. Instantly he got to his feet and put up his guard. Looking around he was ready for an attack from any point. He reached for a kunai but a familiar voice stopped him.

"Hi Naruto," came the voice of Mizuki. "Mind if we talk for a bit. I have something to ask you."

Naruto and Mizuki talked for a long time. What Mizuki had to tell Naruto seemed too incredible to believe. It was an offer that if true would make all his dreams come true. Naruto sat quietly for a while thinking over his words. Unclear of some things still.

"So you're telling me that I have been picked for some sort of special training?" Naruto finally asked getting his thoughts in order. "What sort of training?"

"Well, I really can't get into that," he said looking at Naruto coyly. "But let me ask you this. Where do you think the ANBU get their special skills from?"

Narutos eyes lit up. "ANBU." He let the word roll around his head. "All I have to do is steal this scroll without getting caught and take it to this old shack in the woods?"

"Well it won't be as easy as its sounds. But that's about it. If you can do that then it will be proof that you are ready to get advanced training. I got to run but I hope to see you later tonight."

With his final words spoken Mizuki vanished leaving Naruto to think things over. He had a lot to think about. He was not sure if the offer was true. Growing up as he did Naruto had an immediate distrust of anything that looked too good.

"Naruto," the Foxes voice cut through his thoughts. "If this offer is for real it's the break you have been waiting for. The skills of the ANBU paired with my power."

"I would be near unstoppable," Naruto cut in. "If I knew all their secrets then I would be better able to lay this village to ashes."

"What are you going to do my son?"

"I'm going to think about it. Right now I have a party to get to."