The Third Hokage was having a horrible day. First one of his jounins tried to steal one of the village's prized secret scrolls, then his grandson broke the record of attempted assassination of him today and now sitting in front of him with a goofy grin on his face looking around the room was none other than the jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, and his pet fox. He heaved a sigh, the Sandaime knew after this encounter he would have a migraine the size of the Hokage mountain.
Naruto could feel the eyes of the Hokage studying him and smirked on the inside.
"He has no idea how to handle me now, no idea of what my skills are and no idea on weather I hold a grudge against the village," he thought to himself.
"Can you blame the man?" answered the Kyuubi, looking up at him "You disappear one day with no warning and suddenly re-appear ten years later, claiming to be the son of one of the Sannin no less! I would hate to be in his position..."
"My my my, is the killer fox going sentimental?" teased the boy.
"Shut up kit, he was the one of the only people who ever treated you like you were an actual person, he may still be a lowly human but he is far better than those other wretches of this miserable village. I still don't get why you want to actually help their sorry asses" protested the great demon lord. The fox by Naruto's side lifted the side of his mouth to bare a fang. Naruto just smiled and continued to survey the Hokage's office.
"Why are you here, Naruto?" The question brought him from his thoughts and he turned to regard the old man.
"This is my home." He replied simply. The Third frowned.
"You have been missing for 10 years and many believe you to be dead. From what I can gather you have been adopted by Tsunade and were most likely happier with her than you have ever been with this village. I suppose instead of why I should ask you 'What do you want?'"
Naruto smiled brightly. Leave it to the Third to figure out he had an ulterior motive to returning.
"Kaa-san said she wanted me to get proper experience as a ninja, instead of the brawls I'm usually dragged into with her over money problems. She said she taught me as much as she can so she sent me here. I want to apply for the gennin exams that take place tomorrow." He explained, wincing slightly as the memories of some of the past fights wormed their way into his head.
The Third was speechless.
"You want to what?!"
"I want to be a ninja and go for my gennin hitai-ate." Repeated the blonde.
"But, you've had no training!" protested the Hokage. "The other students have been studying to be ninja at the academy for 6 years! Minimum! Not mentioning the training they do at home and in their spare time! You wouldn't be able to keep up with the others, let alone pass!" he continued to rant and rave until Naruto finally decided to stop him. With a kunai at his throat.
"Old man, I understand your reasons but I am nothing like the punch-bag I was before I left this village." Growled the boy as he pressed the cold metal against the man's jugular. "For 10 years I have been training under kaa-san. One of the freaking Sannin! I know what's inside of me and I know of my heritage. I have power that you could hardly understand. I know you are saying this out of worry for me, but believe me. I am perfectly capable of handling myself." And with that he pulled the kunai back and sat back down.
The Third Hokage paused, thinking deeply about the implications this young child had insinuated. If he knew about the demon in him, then he could have access to his chakra and infinite knowledge and if he really did know his heritage... Kami help us, he could be even more powerful then he was at his prime! Clearing his throat to get the blonde's attention, the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf village made his decision.
"Very well Naruto. In light of the evidence you have shown me," he rubbed his throat slightly, " I have decided you shall participate in the gennin exams with my personal recommendation. I shall be your sponsor and caretaker as long as you live in this village without a guardian. You can live in your father's house that is located near the West Forest. It is protected by blood-seals so to get in you...,"
"I know how to get in old man. I am well informed about many types of seals," interrupted the boy, who was grinning widely at his acceptance for the exam.
"Very well. The exam takes place at precisely 0700 tomorrow morning in the academy. Do not do anything that would shame your name and in turn mine." He warned before smiling hugely.
"Welcome back, Naruto"
...
Naruto and Kyuubi walked through the village, observing the people and slowly making their way to Naruto's new house. Many of the villagers gave him suspicious or fearful looks due to the large fox trotting beside him. Naruto ignored them. He was used to people judging him. As he neared the West Forest. He passed the nobles district, where prestigious families such as the Hyuugas and Uchihas reside. A sharp whistling was all the warning he had before a shurikan buried itself in the ground just beyond his feet. Naruto paused and stared at the weapon whilst Kyuubi sniffed at it.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?!" demanded a voice. Naruto turned to see a group of kids his age staring at him. The one who had thrown the shuriken standing at the head of the group. He had black hair that spiked up in the back and reminded Naruto of a ducks ass. His onyx eyes stared at him coldly.
"Don't you usually introduce yourself before asking someone their name?" asked Naruto, ignoring the piece of metal at his feet, he continued on.
"Hey! Wait! Only nobles are allowed in this area of the village and their guests" protested a girl with pink hair and matching dress. "Who were you invited by? I've never seen you around the village before." Continued the pink haired girl. Kyuubi had finished inspecting the shuriken and had now decided to inspect the girl. Pinky squealed like the little girl she is, as the curious fox sniffed her up and down. Naruto held back a chuckle.
"Who knew the mighty demon lord would be acting like a curious cat?" Naruto said in his head. He was shortly answered by a growl
"I need to act the part don't I? This fox body has its own desires that I cannot control, I don't say anything about your primal desires so you don't say anything about mine." Retorted the great fox demon. Naruto just laughed silently.
"Restrain your beast!" screamed the pink haired girl, as the fox finished sniffing all he could on four legs and had opted to placing to paws on her front to sniff her face. His tails swaying back and forth energetically.
"And I'm meant to be the kit?" he asked silently chuckling.
"Shut it. Now call me over so they think you have some sense of control over me. I like the name Fang" he added. Naruto could feel the beast grinning in his head. Of course he had to pick a freaky name, at least it's better than Kyuubi.... he would probably be chased out of town if he called the fox that. Shaking his head still smirking, the blonde called for the fox.
"Fang! Come here, stop harassing the girl. You've already eaten today." Called the boy. The rest of the group visibly flinched at the implication of the fox eating human flesh. Kyuubi gave a fox grin at the girl before licking her face and quickly padding over to his master, sat beside him and surveyed the group.
A blonde haired kunoichi had come and helped the shaky pink haired one, saying soothing words to calm down the girl. Naruto was dumbfounded on how anyone could be traumatized by getting licked in the face from a friendly animal, not that they knew he was far, far from friendly. The duck-butt haired guy was still glaring daggers at Naruto, not noticing the distress of one of his friends.
"I asked you who you were, and why you are in my clan's house!" repeated the black haired boy. Naruto quickly looked around him and discovered he was in the Uchiha clan's district.
"Sorry for intruding, but I was just taking a short-cut to my house. If you'll excuse me," Naruto politely bowed and continued on his way, hands in his pockets and whistling an aimless tune.
The boy who threw the shuriken quickly thought,
"The only other houses in that direction are reserved for the Hokage or council members! I'm pretty sure I have never seen him here before so he must be trying to break-in somewhere to steal something. I will not have my home desecrated by some blonde idiot!" Out loud he said,
"You still haven't told me who you are. Plus foxes are shunned in this village and you're house can't be that way, only Hokage and council members are permitted beyond the West Forest"
A sigh could be heard from the pink and blonde haired kunoichi, "Sasuke-kun is so smart" they gushed. Naruto had to hold back the nausea that threatened to overcome him.
"Well, Sasuke-kun, my house is that way so you're wrong there and Fang cannot and will not be separated from me, good-luck trying and I wish you a quick death, not like his usual ones," answered Naruto looking at the fox, who grinned at the mention of his name.
Pinky screeched at this statement and Sasuke was wincing on the inside, but his cold demeanour didn't betray his real thoughts.
"You still didn't tell us your name." He stated. Naruto scratched his head, thinking.
"What do you think Kyuubi? Should I tell them my full name? Adopted name? Or a fake name?" he asked quietly in his mind.
"It's your choice kit, but if they follow you then they'll figure it out once you get to your house. You'll save yourself a headache if you tell them now, mind you, you'll still get a headache just now not later," said the Kyuubi in a rather bored tone. Running his hand through his blonde hair, Naruto made his choice.
"My name is Naruto," he said simply, then turned around and continued on towards his house, leaving a frustrated Sasuke behind.