A/N's will be at the bottom.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
On the front of his chest a large black seal was emblazoned unto his breast. Danzo had it done right before his punishment began. It was a chakra seal that locked his ability to mold chakra, as well as the ability for Kyuubi to heal his wounds instantaneously.
Naruto chuckled bitterly. "If there's one thing your good for old man its efficiency."
When Naruto felt the slice of the whip on his back once again his eyes went wide with pain and he gasped for breath. Still, he refused to let a scream come from his mouth. The woman who stood behind him clicked a tongue in annoyance as her long black hair trailed down her back. The standard Root mask hung fastened to her side leaving her porcelain face for all to see.
The blonde knew her as one of the top Root Commanders only five years his senior. He also knew that she was absolutely ruthless. Even if they had known each other since he was first introduced into the program she still disliked him. Better yet, she hated him.
"Had enough?" She said coiling the black whip into her hand. Naruto spit out the blood that had gathered in his mouth. He felt himself fading in and out of consciousness. Every fiber of his body was aching, but he'd be damned before he let her know that.
"You'll have to do better than that to make me scream sweetheart." The blonde said with a weak grin. He took joy in watching her perfect face tighten in irritation, her dark eyes smoldering with anger. He had made it his goal to prove that these assholes weren't as emotionless as they like to appear to be.
They were human. He had to believe they were still human. After all, if they weren't human… then what was he?
"Gladly." She said viscously. The whip hit his back again. Breaking into the skin it tore at the muscles, ripping them to pieces. Gashes and tears littered his body. Blood trickled down slowly burning the other lacerations as it continued its journey to the floor.
"Fuck!" Naruto swore softly under his breath. His eyes were fluttering. He wanted to let the darkness overtake him, let the pain merely fade, but his pride as a man refused to let him do so. He would stay awake for all of it.
He had brought it on himself after all. You didn't cross Danzo and get away scotch clean. So now he had to prove himself. Prove to Danzo that he was worth it. Naruto had to show that he could be useful again. If he wasn't, then he'd just be back on the streets alone. He refused to let that happen.
"I think that shall be enough Rin." A voice spoke out in the dimly lit room.
"Heh, speak of the devil…" Naruto thought amusedly. Glancing over he watched as Danzo entered the room with another Root Member by his side. His eye was firmly staring at the blonde.
Rin looked at her superior blankly. "It's only been a hundred and fifty lashes, Danzo-sama." Naruto scoffed internally. "Hundred and fifty lashes my ass…"
"Are you questioning me Rin?" The edge in Danzo's voice let everyone know the warning that it was. He would not accept disobedience from his subordinates. Naruto was the proof of that.
"My apologies Danzo-sama, I spoke out of turn. Forgive me…" Rin said bowing deeply.
When she stood back up she grabbed her mask and placed it securely on her face before walking towards the bound boy. Untying Naruto's wrist she watched apathetically as the blonde fell to his knees. The abrupt and aggressive movement caused his body to recoil in both pain and exhaustion.
Once finished Rin went and bowed again to Danzo. The man barely glanced at his commander as he flicked his hand away in dismissal. "You may leave now." The woman was quick to stand, and blue eyes from the ground watched her leave gracefully.
When the door finally shut it left just the three men in the room. Danzo walked up to Naruto the sound of his cane echoing in through the walls. Naruto attempted to get up, but as he tried his body refused to bear the weight and he was sent sprawling back to the ground face first.
Breathing heavily he tried to regain his focus. He had to try to ignore the pain.
It was then that with a nod from Danzo, the other Root member came forward and kneeled next to him. Glaring at the masked man, Naruto could do nothing but watch. All the strength in his body gone he had no fight left to give.
"Hanzo." The masked man glanced up. "Just enough that they won't become infected." Nodding Hanzo took out a large scroll. He unsealed the contents and began to work.
Naruto didn't bother to look as his eyes were trained on Danzo. He must have looked pathetic. Face pressed into the floor and body bleeding and unmoving on the ground. This was not how Naruto would have chosen to look. He wouldn't choose to grovel at another man's feet.
It made Naruto even angrier to see the smug look in Danzo's one good eye. "So… have we learned our lesson about disobedience?" Refusing to let the man win, the blonde grinned before spitting at the man's feet.
Danzo's eyes crinkled in irritation. "Even after two hundred lashes you still act like an impudent child."
"Heh," Naruto said hoarsely. "It'll ta-take more than a measly little whip to make me your bitch …Old Man." He sneered. The blonde could feel Hanzo as he began to tend to his back, wiping the blood that bubbled on his skin. He grunted as the he realized that Hanzo had no intention of doing the repair lightly.
Danzo stepped closer to the fallen blonde. "I have no intention of making you my bitch Uzumaki, especially since Rin seems to have given you that position happily." Naruto growled at the jab, but smartly kept his mouth shut.
The older man looked at Hanzo and nodded as he brought out a white bottle of alcohol. Unscrewing the top the pungent smell invaded Naruto's nose.
"The fuck is that—" The blonde didn't have time to finish his question as Hanzo began to pour the contents on his bleeding back.
Naruto howled in pain. It felt like liquid fire burning his skin. The boy's body convulsed in pain as he struggled to get away. Hanzo's grip on him kept Naruto from completely thrashing the man. "Get the fuck off me!" He yelled as the man continued to rub alcohol on his lacerations.
"God damn it!" The scream was ripped from Naruto's throat. His back felt crippling pain as the reprimand continued. Even as the last of the bottle's contents dripped onto his back he could still feel the liquid searing the skin from his body.
Hanzo quickly gathered his things sealing them back into his scroll. Wordlessly he got up and bowed to Danzo before also taking a leave from the room. Now it was just Naruto and Danzo.
The blonde moaned in agony. Danzo smiled cruelly, "Even further you've failed to realize Uzumaki you are already mine to break as I please."
Naruto forced himself to look up from the ground. Tears had involuntarily gathered at the corner of his eyes, "You fuckin' bastard!" He growled. He forced his arms and legs to move attempting to stand up. It was then that Danzo took his cane and beat upon Naruto's already injured back until Naruto rolled up on the ground in submission.
"You will do well to remember that you represent me on the field. Your loyalty is to me. You will obey me. Disobey my orders again and it will be your head rolling boy." Danzo threatened darkly.
He had already given the boy far more leniency then his other subordinates and for reasons he wasn't even entirely sure of. Yet he would not have him ruining his future plans and having the other members question Danzo's superiority. He needed Naruto's loyalty and the only way to insure that was to make it so Naruto felt like he needed to prove something to him.
Backing away the old man went to over to a table. Grabbing the shirt he had placed there earlier he took it and tossed it towards the blonde. "Get up, we have much to discuss." The man watched silently as the boy tried to put the shirt on. He knew the boy was probably fading in and out of consciousness from the extreme abuse.
Danzo finally hummed in annoyance before calling to the blonde. Blue eyes wavered momentarily before eventually falling on to him. "When you wake up, I expect you in my office." Naruto nodded slowly in response.
Walking away Danzo smiled wryly when he heard the boy call out to him.
"Y-yes… Danzo-sama"
Yes, Naruto Uzumaki was his to break.
2 Hours Later
Naruto looked at his back in the mirror. Scars littered his skin from the whipping. Naruto touched one of them reveling in how smooth it felt. Faintly he wondered if his skin would return to its unblemished form.
When he had woken up earlier on the floor the first thing he had realized was the chakra seal was gone. He could feel his chakra running freely through his body again. He figured as he had slept Danzo had someone come in and take it off. Even more he had found that Kyuubi had already healed his back. The scars though, they had remained.
Had that been Danzo's plan? Leave him with a reminder of his disobedience. Shrugging it off Naruto threw the shirt he had been left over his head. It didn't matter. The scars might be there now, but they would be gone within the week. Kyuubi was vain like that. The fox had to have the perfect container.
His back ached, but for the most part Naruto ignored it. He wouldn't whine about it. Not after the beating his pride took earlier. Naruto recalled Danzo's last words to him.
"When you wake up, I expect you in my office."
Quickly grabbing his ninja pouch Naruto fastened it to his side as he walked out of the room. When the door shut behind him he saw that headquarters was quiet as usual. Few Ne agents walked around and in the rooms with doors closed Naruto could hear the sounds of sparring.
The white plan Ne mask kept everyone a nameless figure. He was the only recruit that didn't wear one. He was special. He was Danzo's toy.
"Danzo-sama is expecting you sempai." A bland voice came from next to him. Turning blue eyes saw a Root member standing by to him. He recognized the voice immediately.
"Sai." Naruto said carelessly. The boy said nothing merely motioning the blonde to follow him. "I was on my way there when you showed up. I don't need a guide in my own home asshole."
The masked boy turned his head back before taking his mask off just enough for Naruto to see his face. Sai's dark eyes crinkled and his mouth spread into a creepy smile. Naruto recoiled in disgust.
"Hey! I told you not to smile at me dumbass! It creeps me the fuck out!" Naruto yelled looking away indignantly. He was so weird. Naruto didn't understand why Danzo assigned him of all people to watch the blonde. He'd almost rather have had Rin watch him and everyone knew she was a sadistic bitch.
"Dickless." Sai said as he fastened his mask back into place. The blonde could feel his eye start to twitch. Glaring at him hotly the blonde pushed past him.
"I don't understand your obsession with my penis—which is there thank you very much—but I think I can find my own way to Danzo from here." Naruto said flicking the boy off. "See ya jackass!" He was relieved when he realized that Sai had no intentions of following him.
Rubbing his temples in irritation he was almost glad when he reached Danzo's office. Grabbing the handle and throwing the door open Naruto walked in and took a seat in front of Danzo's desk. The old man glanced at him momentarily before continuing to work on his files.
"Old Man" Naruto said in greeting roughly.
"I thought I told you to knock before entering." Danzo said placing his pencil down staring at the boy.
"Funny, I don't seem to recall that." The blonde said flippantly.
Danzo began to put his papers away. "I could have been in here with other Root members. You know I won't have your insubordination in front of others… after all I'd hope you would not want to have a repeat of earlier I assume?"
Naruto scoffed before looking at the man seriously. "I told you it won't happen again. And you know I always use my chakra sensory skills to check before I come in. I'm not stupid Old Man."
"I believe that would be up for debate boy." Danzo said slyly.
"Fuck you." Naruto spat.
"I believe now would be the time to discuss where we go from here… especially after your little mishap." Danzo said sternly. Naruto immediately straightened up and adopted a serious look in his eyes. He was curious about what Danzo had in mind.
This would be a big change to their plans. Originally Naruto was supposed to have captured Mizuki, failed the exams, and disappeared from the face of the village. It was then that he would have joined Root full time. That plan had gone to hell the moment Iruka had made Naruto a full-fledged ninja.
"I already apologized didn't I?" The blonde said looking away slightly. He had been just as disappointed in himself as Danzo had been. "Can't we, I don't know, like kill me off or something? We can fake my death and continue as planned." He suggested.
"I've considered it, but you're too far in already. Hiruzen has taken a renewed interest in you and might suspect something. If I try to do anything like that he'll trace the breadcrumbs back to me." Danzo said.
Naruto picked his nails. "Please, you put too much faith into that Old Geezer. Root doesn't leave a trail behind. There's no way that even if the Sandaime suspects anything that he'll be on to you."
"You would do well to remember that he is the Sandaime Hokage for a reason. He may be my old teammate and a fool when it comes to running this village, but he is not an idiot. He already has his suspicions because you've completely separated yourself from him. I will not risk the entire operation just for you boy. You're not as special as you may like to think." Danzo reprimanded sharply.
Naruto clenched his fists defensively. "I've never thought I was better or more special than anyone old man. I've never made myself out to be more than I am."
"No, you just go out and do whatever you please completely disregarding my orders." Naruto shut his mouth at that. There was nothing he could do to defend himself in any way. He had dug his own hole; it was better not bury himself any further.
"Now, considering everything I have decided what we shall do." Naruto inclined his head motioning for the man to continue.
"I will allow you to become a ninja and you will get a team as the Sandaime wants."
"You've got to be-!" Naruto said raising his voice angrily. Danzo slammed his cane down and silenced the boy.
"And you will become my eyes and ears on the field. We can make use of this. Konoha can no longer be shown as weak to the other villages. You will become our pillar of strength and the one to make the other villages fear us." Danzo said with finality. Naruto looked back with anger.
"Old man you can't be serious. How am I supposed to work with a team and a sensei? I hate working with other people. Teamwork has never exactly been my thing you know that!" Naruto ground out. He couldn't do it. He refused. He thought he was done playing the idiot.
"You don't have a choice boy. It is the only option and it is one I think will benefit us."
"How? How in the hell will this benefit us?" Naruto questioned.
"Simple. You will become the Hokage." Danzo folded is hands together calmly as he watched the boy in front of him go through a variety of reactions.
Naruto's eyes widened. The blonde stood up and pointed a finger at Danzo blue eyes blazing with anger. "Hell no! I would rather die before I put that godforsaken hat on my head. And I'm fucking thirteen! Who knows when that geezer is finally going to kick the bucket and it'll sure be a cold day in hell before the people of this village would actually have me as Hokage! You've gone fucking delusional!"
Danzo chuckled. "No, all I've done is made your mistake into something great. And we don't need you as Hokage now boy; it will be a while before I would even let you think about taking the position. Now sit back down Uzumaki."
Naruto looked at the man incredulously, but took a seat once again. "You better explain this Old Man and I mean down to every last little detail." The blonde warned.
"Root has little to no real political power right now. With you as Hokage it would be the golden opportunity to take back this village to where we need it to be. We are weak. But once Root re-establishes its place to the other villages we will become strong once again. We just need someone as Kage to support it."
"Then why don't you do it. I have no interest." Naruto said staring bullets at the man.
"Because unfortunately I have other responsibilities and I'm not exactly getting any younger either." Danzo said. The man was confident in this new plan. It would be more than he ever could have ever originally hoped for.
"Yeah and the village isn't going to just bow down screaming praises for me either. What's your plan for that?" Naruto said fidgeting. Bringing his hand up he began to rub the back of his head sheepishly. As a child whenever he got nervous he would just do it unconsciously. Years later it was now just a bad habit he couldn't seem to shake.
"Like you said, we have years before you'll even be old enough to be considered a candidate for the position. For now we have other goals to accomplish first." Danzo knew he had to be straightforward. If he tried to play Naruto then the boy would catch on and it would be almost impossible to get him on board.
The blonde studied the man. There were a lot of things going on in his head, but he could see the logic behind this. For now, it seemed like the only possible plan. It could always change. Danzo could find a better candidate for the position than him. Naruto still had time to do a little work before any of this became final.
"Fine. Then what are your other goals exactly?" He asked.
"To prepare you and make you as strong as we possibly can. Will make you into the Jinchuriki you were meant to be, ruthless and efficient."
Naruto flinched away at the word Jinchuriki. He still didn't like to hear it. He didn't like to be reminded that he was a human sacrifice.
"So then no more playing the fool outside of Root? I don't have to pretend to be an idiot anymore?" Naruto couldn't decide if he liked that idea or not. He was still asking himself how much he pretended to be the idiot and how much he actually wanted to be the idiot.
Danzo scoffed. "Yes, you will no longer have to play the bumbling fool. Root wants you to be strong. We want others to fear you and know you across the lands. So whatever it takes I want you to do it understood?"
Naruto looked away silently. He was unsure, but it seemed as if he didn't really have a choice. "Yeah…I got it. Is that all then Old Man?" He said preparing to get up and leave.
"No. You need to know your boundaries first. There will be rules to this new arrangement."
"Rules?" The blonde raised in eyebrow in question. He wasn't good with rules.
"Yes. First of all I expect that you know you may tell no one of the Root program." Naruto gave him a dry look in response.
"Second your time here will be very limited and I suspect the Sandaime will have you watched for a time after team assignments. So you will not return to headquarters for the next few months. I will designate a place for us to meet."
Naruto nodded his head in agreement. He didn't like it, but it was probably for the best. If the Sandaime ever found out Root existed and that Naruto was a part of it he would have Danzo's head. "Okay, I'll pack my stuff today. I'm assuming that's where you'll continue to train me?"
"Yes, though I'll start assigning you other sensei's as well. You need to become better-rounded in the ninja arts. Rin will probably meet up with you most nights."
Naruto cringed at her name. "You're doing that on purpose you Old Man." Danzo smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"She's a good commander and she shows respect. Learn something from her."
"I have a better chance of being castrated first."
"That's not my problem, but I'll send you messages through the falcons of the times and days we will meet." It would be difficult working around Naruto's team schedule and the constant surveillance, but Danzo would figure it out. And he trusted Naruto to sneak away when he could.
Naruto got a thought and tilted his head. "What about the Underground matches?"
Danzo raised an eyebrow. "What about them?"
"Well, will I continue to do them?" The blonde questioned.
"You're Konoha's number one representative; I will not pull you out simply because you're going to be a little busier."
The whiskered boy scowled. "Didn't have to be so mean about it Old Man… have you heard anything about the next match?"
"Yes, I got word the other day. You have a few weeks before the next one, but it'll be over by Suna." Naruto waved the man off.
"It's fine. That'll give me enough time to get used to the new schedule so I'll figure something out. They'll send me the go ahead two days prior right?"
"Same as always boy."
Naruto nodded his head in silence. Looking at his feet he tried to process everything. This sure was one hell of a plan. He always wondered how Danzo came up with everything. There didn't seem to be anything the man didn't know.
Standing up Danzo took something out of his desk. "You threw the other one away a few days ago so I've decided to give you my old one." Placing the item on the desk he walked towards the door. "I suggest you don't lose it."
Pausing before he left Danzo spoke out once more, "You're now officially a Konoha ninja and the future Hokage. Let me be the first to congratulate you… Uzumaki Naruto." He let the door slam shut behind him. Naruto flinched at the loud noise, but his eyes stared at the item that had been laid on his desk.
Reaching his hand out he grabbed it, fingers tracing the cool metal. The insignia of the leaf engraved on to it, the steel around it was worn and old. The smooth black cloth felt new and soft in his hands.
At one point it had been his dream to hold this and fasten it to his forehead, but as he got older the wonder and excitement of being a ninja had faded. He grew to hate it. He grew to hate everything ninja stood for. They were tools and his dream of becoming one all but disappeared. He had mocked the position of the Hokage. He had mocked the ninja that blindly followed him.
And now here he was. His grip around the head band tightened in anger. His free hand banged on the desk in front of him loudly.
"Shit…"
Naruto sighed as he ran a hand through his blonde hair. He glared at the clock on the wall willing it to go back in time. "Iruka is going to kill me." Giving himself a look over, he grinned. At least he looked good right?
The night before he had decided to go with a change of wardrobe. Gone was the orange jumpsuit and in its place was a collared sleeveless black tank with dark Anbu style pants. They hung low on his waist and allowed the free movement that Naruto loved.
His arms were wrapped in white tape from the elbow down and secured over top of them laid matching white forearm guards with a hidden blade compartment. To top it all off Danzo's old headband was wrapped loosely around his neck on the worn black cloth.
Deciding now was better than never Naruto grabbed the doorknob and opened the gateway into what he was sure to be hell. Walking through the frame he watched Iruka turn, the man's finger already pointed accusingly at him.
"Naruto you're la-!" The blonde could feel all eyes on him. The room was hushed into silence. He rubbed the back of his head and glanced around.
"You're late." Iruka said stupefied staring at the blonde.
Naruto coughed. "Sorry my bad, won't happen again." Walking past Iruka he trudged to his seat only to be stopped by one of his classmates.
"Hey dead last what are you doing here? Everyone knows you failed!" Kiba yelled standing up from his seat. A few of the boys around him called out their agreements. Naruto looked up at them blankly.
Pointing at the headband tied loosely around his neck Naruto spoke, "I always knew you were dumb, but apparently you're blind to mutt. You see this? It shows that I passed dog-breath."
Kiba bristled at the jab. "I bet you stole that off someone!"
Naruto shrugged and smiled softly. "Maybe I did dog-breath." Walking towards the back the blonde took the empty seat next to the window. Kiba effectively silenced could only stare with his eyes wide.
Sakura – who was sitting at the front - highly confused about the entire situation decided to raise her hand. Iruka deadpanned, but called on her nonetheless. Didn't she get that they had already graduated? He wasn't really her teacher anymore.
"What is it Sakura?"
"Sensei did Naruto really pass the exam?" Everyone looked attentively at the chunin. Iruka even noticed how Naruto's eyes fell on him curious as to what the man would say. Clearing his throat the chunin laughed nervously to shake the tension in the room.
"Naruto did some extra credit which gave him enough points to pass. He has just as much a right to be here as everyone else." He finished more firmly. He believed in his student and he knew Naruto would make a splendid ninja. He just knew it.
"What extra credit? How come I've never heard of it?" Sakura said a bit put-out. She made it her business to take all extracurricular activities and extra practices. It wasn't fair if one student was offered extra credit over another.
"I'm sorry it's up to Naruto if he wants to share, but it's not exactly my place to say." Iruka said finally waving off Sakura hoping she'd leave the subject alone. The Hokage had made the incident with Mizuki an S-Class secret so there was nothing he could say.
Looking around he saw most of the class had accepted it except Shikamaru who was pretending not to be awake. The boy didn't give Iruka enough credit though; he had seen the boy shift so that he could hear the conversation better. The boy was too curious for his own good.
His eyes finally floated up to Naruto who sat quietly in the corner. He was completely different. His outfit had changed and you could tell that his attitude had as well. Hell, Iruka barely recognized him when he walked through the door.
He almost didn't know what to think, but the chunin found he wasn't as surprised as he thought he'd be. The boy had always been hiding something. He just had a feeling now that the boy would no longer hide it from the world.
He had faith though.
He had seen what kind of person Naruto was that night with Mizuki. He would trust the boy. Iruka could only imagine what kind of man Naruto would grow up to be.
"Ahem." Iruka said. "I guess it's time that we start team assignments. Once I announce your squad you will then meet up with your senseis' as they arrive."
"Alright Team 6 is still being processed."
"Team 7 will consist of Naruto Uzumaki…"
In the back of the room Naruto raised in eyebrow not really knowing who he'd be paired with. He still couldn't believe Danzo was making him do this. He didn't exactly play well with others.
"…Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha. Your instructor will be Kakashi Hatake."
"Fuck my life." Naruto put his head down. Someone hated him, scratch that Danzo hated him. He would definitely make the Old Man's life hell for this. Of all the people he could have been stuck with and he got the two people he absolutely couldn't stand.
He could hear Sakura cheering for being on the same team with Sasuke. Her voice filled with arrogance as she gloated to her rival Ino. And he could practically envision the Uchiha's face. The 'I'm better than all of you morons' look that drove Naruto insane. Nonetheless Iruka continued on.
"Team 8 will be Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame. Your instructor is Kurenai Yuuhi."
"Team 9 is still in processing."
"Finally Team 10 will consist Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Chouji Akimichi. Your instructor is Asuma Sarutobi."
Placing his clipboard on the desk Iruka grinned. Another batch of students successfully graduated. "Your senseis will come pick you up, but before they do let me be the first to congratulate all of you in becoming genin. I really am proud to call you all my students!"
A lot of the students smiled and Iruka even went up to say his final goodbyes, but Naruto just stayed watching quietly in the back. He didn't understand them. Talking and laughing as if this were some entire joke.
Didn't they understand? They were ninja now. Granted they were merely genin, but to be a ninja meant your life would now be at stakes at all times. And… they were laughing? Naruto crinkled his nose in distaste.
"You're no better than the stupid civilians." He thought bitterly. "Half of these morons will die on their first real mission." There was no point in making friends. They would just die and leave you alone anyway. Scoffing Naruto put his head back down. He would be here a while.
Danzo had at one time made him read all the files of the ninja in Konoha. It was part of his training, information gathering to be specific. The minute Iruka had said Kakashi Hatake, Naruto knew that he couldn't have gotten a worst sensei.
Time clicked by and blue eyes apathetically watched as most of the class had been picked up by their various senseis and some teachers would walk in to say their farewells to Iruka as well. To give the chunin credit he stayed as long as he could, but soon even Iruka ran out saying that he had a meeting he couldn't afford to be late to.
So then it just left three.
"Sasuke-kun, don't you think it's great were on the same team together?" Naruto looked up watching the interactions between his teammates.
"Hn." Sasuke said unmoving and Naruto noticed instead how the raven's eyes were trained on him. How had he not noticed that earlier?
"Sasuke-kun after the meeting we should go get something to eat you know?" Sakura played with her hair looking bashful, her green eyes refusing to look up at Sasuke's, and her face tinged pink.
Was she stupid? Sasuke clearly had no interest and yet she still pined after the boy. Naruto just couldn't understand. Not as if he understood the emo staring at him either.
"No." Was Sasuke's simple answer. Sakura looked dejected.
Blue eyes stared hard at coal ones. Miffed Naruto lifted his head, "Looking for something Uchiha?" Naruto said warningly. If there was one thing he wouldn't take anymore is the condescending attitude of the stupid raven.
Sasuke didn't even flinch. "You're different loser." Sakura now in the conversation looked up at the blonde curiously. Her head tilted to one side she stared at the blonde as well.
"And you're still a prick. What's your point?" Naruto said indifferently.
"Hey!" Sakura stepped in. "Don't talk to Sasuke-kun like that! You're still a dead last anyway!" Naruto narrowed his eyes at the insult, but kept his eyes trained on Sasuke.
"Hn." Sasuke turned back around and pointedly ignored the blonde. It was then that Naruto decided he hated both his teammates. They were useless and petty. His eyes moving to Sakura, he stood up from his seat.
"Whatever you say Sakura." He said blandly. Glancing at the clock he realized he had another hour before Kakashi would even consider arriving. Naruto began to walk to the door. He needed to do something, anything really. And a walk sounded really nice right about now.
"Hey, where are you going?" Sakura said loudly.
"Out."
"Our sensei's not here yet, we have to wait for him." Sakura said more pressingly. "I'm not going to get in trouble cause you decided to leave idiot." Personally she couldn't care less what Naruto did. She had already established him as the weak link on the team, but she wouldn't let him ruin their sensei's first impression of them.
"Don't worry I'll be back in time so don't get your panties in a twist." Naruto said waving his hand in goodbye as he left.
Sakura stood watching the empty space where her teammate left. She turned to Sasuke unsure of what to do. "Should we go after him?"
Sasuke looked at her momentarily before answering. "I don't care what he does. If he says he'll come back, then he'll come back."
He watched as Sakura took the answer and went to sit down. It was nice hearing the silence for once. She was exactly how he had suspected her to be: loud, annoying, and useless. Yet it was his other teammates that bothered him.
He had not expected the blonde to act like that. When he came in today, Naruto was different. Gone was the annoying blonde who Sasuke thought couldn't accomplish anything and here stood a boy that he no longer knew.
What was he like? Why did he change? Sasuke was curious, but not that curious. The only thing that really mattered was that he was leaving Sasuke alone. Other than that he didn't care. Even as Sasuke continued to think the look in the blonde's eyes earlier stayed with him. He looked lonely. It was one Sasuke was familiar with when he looked into his own eyes.
Sasuke looked at the clock as it ticked by. He scoffed. Why was he thinking about the stupid blonde? It didn't matter. All that really mattered was becoming strong. That was it.
1 Hour Later
"He's late!" Sakura screeched.
Sasuke sighed it must have been the fifth or sixth time she had said it and she still wouldn't shut up. Even still the raven couldn't help but agree. It seemed as if Naruto had the right idea.
"Is this guy for real?" Sasuke wondered.
When the door slowly opened Sasuke's thoughts halted. In walked a man with gravity defying silver hair and a facemask that covered most of his face. Yet the headband with the leaf insignia clearly made him out to be the jonin they were waiting for. Neither Sakura nor Sasuke said anything waiting for the man to speak first.
The silver-haired man looked around for a moment seemingly lost.
"Sensei?" Sakura spoke out hesitantly.
"Where's the third one?" He asked in a smooth voice.
Sasuke merely shrugged his shoulders while Sakura seemingly began to turn red. "Ah, well, he's you know—"
"Present." Came a gruff voice from the doorway. "And just in time." Naruto stood leaning on the doorframe with his arms crossed. A bored look settled on his whiskered face.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the blonde, but remained silent. "That's unexpected…"
Turning back to the group as a whole he began to speak, "Hmm, can I put this? My first impression of this group is… you're a bunch of idiots."
Sasuke scoffed and Sakura opted for a depressed look. This is not how she expected her sensei to act.
Naruto smiled and flipped the jonin the bird. "Well hello to you to asshole."
Kakashi stared at Naruto bewildered. "He's not at all what I had imagined him to be…" None of the reports described him like this and from what he remembered of him as a child it was a radical change.
"Meet me on the roof in five minutes. Ja ne!" Using the shunshin Kakashi figured this would give him a little bit of time to process the information he'd just seen. This might end up being interesting just yet…
Naruto stared at his new sensei. They had all gathered on top of the roof and no one had spoken yet. The newly genin sat next to each other while Kakashi leant on the railway eyeing them all.
"How is it that I always get the one eyed pricks for sensei's? His hand twitched involuntarily. The jonin already pissed him off. He didn't particularly care for his teammates and he had deduced in his mind that this was all Danzo's fault somehow.
Finally the silver-haired man broke the silence, "Alright, why don't you introduce yourselves one at a time…"
Sakura spoke up quickly. "Introduce ourselves? What are we supposed to say?"
Kakashi sighed. Making a bigger hand gesture he tried to make it as simple as possible. "Things you like, things you hate, dreams for the future, hobbies, just stuff like that."
"You should go first sensei. Just to show us how it works." Sakura said. Naruto looked at her as if she was stupid and Sasuke acted as if he didn't even care.
"Me?" Kakashi pointed to himself before running a hand through his hair. "I'm Kakashi Hatake. The things I like and the things I hate are something I don't feel like telling you. My dreams for the future… I haven't really thought about it. And as for my hobbies, I have lots of hobbies.
Naruto deadpanned and had the urge to flip the man off again. "All he really told us was his name…" Sakura muttered unbelieving.
"Alright your turn, Pinky why don't you go first."
Sakura put her hands together and smiled brightly. "I'm Sakura Haruno. What I like is…uh I mean the person I like is…" She blushed as she glanced at Sasuke.
"You've got to be kidding me…" Naruto thought disbelievingly. This couldn't be all that she thought about right?
"My hobby is…" Sakura glanced at Sasuke. "My dream for the future is…." The pink haired girl squealed and blushed a bright red looking at Sasuke. Naruto's eye began to twitch.
"And what do you hate?" Kakashi questioned.
Sakura got a dark look in her eyes. "Naruto!" She said loudly.
The blonde scoffed. "Like I really care…"He muttered.
"Alright you next emo." Sasuke glared slightly at the insult.
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha." He said with emphasis towards his new sensei. "I hate a lot of things and I don't particularly like anything. What I have is not a dream because I will make it a reality, I'm going to restore my clan and kill a certain someone." The raven finished ominously.
Sakura stared with hearts in her eyes. "Sasuke's so cool."
Naruto on the other hand stared at the raven curiously. "He's fallen lower than we previously had thought. Danzo will want to know about this."
Kakashi smiled dejectedly from under his mask. "Well those two are just as I thought they would be, though I'll need to keep an eye on Sasuke." His lone eye traveled towards the one person who hadn't introduced himself. "And maybe him as well."
"Alright whiskers why don't you finish it up?" The jonin said in a bored tone.
Naruto didn't pay attention. His eyes watching the sky as the clouds drifted. He didn't really know what to say. Danzo told him he could be himself now. He didn't have to pretend anymore, but he hadn't quite figured out what was an act and what wasn't.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like… few things. I hate those with foolish pride and those who use other people as tools to play with. My hobbies are reading and writing kanji. And as for a dream… I don't really have one."
"Liar!" Sakura said. "Everyone knows you want to be Hokage so don't try to be cool and mysterious like Sasuke."
Naruto turned around and felt a smile force its way on to his face. It felt unnatural and natural at the same time. The blonde sheepishly rubbed the back of his head and Kakashi watched the boy closely.
"Heh yeah, I guess you're right. My dream then is to be… Hokage." The word felt foreign on Naruto's tongue and he felt his body tense. He was going to be Hokage. Danzo had already said it was there ultimate goal yet that was the last thing Naruto ever wanted to happen.
"Good." Kakashi finally said breaking the tension. "You each are unique and have your own ideas. We'll have our first mission tomorrow."
"I call bullshit Hatake." Naruto thought.
"What kind of mission sensei?" Sakura asked innocently. Even Sasuke looked up curious as to what they would be doing.
"A survival exercise if you will."
"Tch." Naruto clicked his tongue.
"I thought we were supposed to have a real mission not more practice! We already did this stuff at the academy that's how we got here." The lone female of the group pointed out irritably.
Kakashi opted for a more serious tone. "This isn't like your previous training."
"Then what exactly is it?" Sasuke spoke up surprising both of his teammates. The raven didn't exactly have a good feeling about this. He was proven right when the jonin began to chuckle.
"What's so funny? That was a fair question." Sakura asked.
"If I tell you the answer you're not going to like it." Kakashi said. "Of the twenty seven graduates who came here only nine will be accepted as genin. The other eighteen will fail and be sent back to the academy—"
Naruto finally tired of hearing the man speak said, "Basically it's a test. A test that he then would have said has a fail rate of sixty six percent."
Sasuke clenched his fist and glared at their sensei while Sakura sat shellshock. "Is that what you meant sensei?" He asked begrudgingly.
Kakashi smiled from beneath his mask. "I told you that you wouldn't like the answer didn't I?" Though he was curious as to how the blonde knew what this really was.
"Bu-but that's not fair! Sasuke-kun and I graduated at the top of the class!" Sakura said.
"Aren't you getting it princess?" Naruto said darkly. "That class… doesn't mean shit out here. The grades you got… doesn't mean shit out here. It was merely a prerequisite on those who might be able to become genin. This is the real test. This is where we become ninja."
The blonde cast a look at Kakashi. "Am I right sen-sei?" He mocked.
"That's how it is. I decide if you pass or fail. So be at the designated training spot at five in the morning tomorrow and be prepared." Kakashi stood up and stretched. "Alright, that's it. You all are dismissed. Ja ne!" And with that their sensei was gone.
The three genin sat silent next to each other. It was Sasuke who stood up first to go. "I'm leaving."
"Wait, wait we can walk together Sasuke-kun!" Sakura was quick to follow behind on his heels. It was only Naruto that stood standing by the rails alone. That hadn't even bothered to say goodbye…
Looking out across the village Naruto watched from above as people passed below him. Everyone was so busy in their everyday lives. The civilians talked and laughed in the streets while the ninja stood guard happily keeping the peace. Faintly he recalled the Sandaime's words to him when he was a child.
"Hey, hey Gramps what's the Will of Fire?" A young blonde boy asked.
The ageing man paused momentarily thinking. "Oh ho now where did you here that Naruto-chan?" The boy blushed with embarrassment rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Well, you know I might have overheard you talking to the other ninja and…yeah. Sorry Gramps I didn't mean to eavesdrop I swear!" Naruto said waving his hands in front of his face defensively.
The Sandaime laughed. "It's okay my boy you don't need to apologize. Now the Will of Fire you say… how do I describe it?" The man asked himself looking out upon his village.
"The Will of Fire are the hopes and dreams of this village, it is what makes Konoha strong. The Will of Fire is the shinobi's will to fight for the sake of the people they hold dear and pass on the dreams of this generation unto the next. It is—"
Hiruzen stopped realizing what he was doing. "Sorry, it looks like I got carried away. Do you understand a little though Naruto-chan?"
The boy had stars in his eyes and a giant smile on his face. "…uh not really Gramps, bu-but it sounded so cool!"
The Hokage chuckled patting the boy's head. Naruto laughed loudly his childish innocence bringing a smile to the old man's face. "That's okay my boy, you'll understand it someday. I believe in that."
"Tch, the Will of Fire? What a bunch of bullshit." Naruto muttered to himself. A small pigeon landed next to him. Chirping away Naruto saw a note attached to its chest. Grabbing the small piece of paper, Naruto unfurled it.
Training Ground 13, we meet at ten.
Danzo
Naruto crumpled the piece of paper and shoved it in his pocket. Pushing off the railing he walked away hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Looks like it's going to be another long night."
A/N - Yo! Finally got the third chapter up so I hope you like it. Drop a review and tell me what you think. Was it good? Bad? Kinda shitty? I don't know that's for you to tell me. But reviews help me be a better writer for you guys, so help me help you yeah?
On to other things, this chapter kinda explored Danzo and Naruto's relationship a little more. If you haven't noticed their relationship will kinda be a larger theme in this story. And also we've finally gotten back on track to the original story line. For the most part it will follow the same story line with changes of course because of Naruto's new character. Remember he'll be acting as both a ninja for Team 7 and the Root agent for Danzo so there will be some more major deviations as we get further along. Other than that I hoped you enjoyed the update.
Regarding my other stories I really hope you guys have read them. I'm hoping to update A Hero's journey next so just a head's up if you want to catch up on the plot. I know it's been a little while since I checked up on that story, but I've already started writing the next chapter. My other story Keep on Keeping On actually got some really good responses so check it out. It's a two-shot as of now, but I'm curious to see if people would like me to continue it so be sure to tell me what you think. That about wraps this up.
Thanks!
Iron Legends13