I don't own Naruto or Kenshin.
(Time skip, one year eleven months after last chapter.)
The usual morning peace of the Hidden Leaf Village was broken by a chorus of anger shouts as people awoke to the sight of the Hokage Monument covered in graffeti, with the face of the Third getting the worst of it. Members of the village council were screaming for the heads of those reponsable (and the heads of the Uzumaki's).
The Third Hokage meanwhile, had a pretty good idea who was responsable and why they did it. The last two years had been the worst yet for Naruto and Kushina and this had lead to them hating a good portion of the village population. When Kenshin had left the villigers had renewed their attempts to kill the two kids, and nearly a forth of them had actually gotten through only to be cut down by the unforgiving blades of the two kids and their Ambu protector.
Then about six months ago they saved the younger siblings of the heirs of both the main and branch houses of the Hyuga clan from a would be assassin, gaining them the favor and protection of that clan along with their Inuzuka and Aburame allies. Though Kushina and Naruto remained ignorant of this new protection because of their unwillingness to approach strangers. They were also on neutral terms with the Nara, Yamanaka and Akimichi clans.
The old Hokage sighted as he thought of his favorite brats, and hoped that their time as gennin would be better then the academy.
BREAK.
Across town at the Namikaze compound Naruto was awoken by the loud outcry that their latest prank with a smirk on his young face, It had taken him and his sister hours to finish their masterpiece and he was glad that the villagers were showing their appresation for their hard work.
Naruto felt something moving aguinst his chest and looked down to find his sister slowly sat up and tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes.
"War?" she asked.
"Reviews of our incredible artistic skills!" The pair were soon turning blue from the amount of laughter as the shouts from around the village got louder.
Nami arrived a few minutes after the laughter started with cups of steaming hot chocolate. just the thing to get two sleepy head pranksters out of bed and ready to demolish the up coming gennin exams. The dog masked Uzumaki Ambu had gotten used to some of the kid's habits and quorks over the last couple of years, but the bed shareing still tended to throw her for a loop. She had finally just lumped it in with most kids need for something to take comfirt in, like a secrity blanket.
Kushina and Naruto both chugged down their morning chocolate before racing for the shower. soon the sounds of running water and arguing filled the house.
BREAK.
A few hours later at the academy Naruto and Kushina took their seats at the back of the classroom. They had been some of the first to arrive and had used it to obtain a defence able position in the room and wait for the rest of class to arrive.
Not long after Kenshin had left town Naruto and Kushina had suffered a severe popularity drop in class to the point that no one would willingly speak to them if they didn't have to. Luckly the last few months had seen them make a few friends in the class and they always had a friend in Iruka sensei.
The two brats were just starting to get settled in when an unholy racket tore through the building, causing everyone to moan in despair. They knew what that sound ment.
Not three seconds later a hoard of girls charged into the classroom, screaming about 'Sasuke KUN!' and arguing over who got to sit next to him. Kushina was beating her head on her desk at the pafetic sight in front of her while Hinata Hyuga could feel a vein pulsing as she tried to resist the urge to smite them all.
Then Sasuke himself entered in all his emotionally stunted glory, and the fangirl horde went wild as the dark haired br-boy walked across the room and took his usual seat next to the window, where he was soon surrounded by the winking, giggling horde of stupidness. Kushina now felt like she was going to vomit at the sight of all the blantantly forced cuteness these slaggs were throwing around, and the only thing stopping Hinata from going for her kunai was Naruto's hand gently messauging her shoulders.
Shortly before class started the presidents of the Sasuke fanclub, Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka arrived. Hinata and Kushina considered these two at least plausable as Kunoichi, Ino was the Yamanaka clan heiress and was learning her clan's mind arts; Sakura was the most book smart girl in the class and would eat the written exam for breakfist no problem. That said her physical skills and stamina lefted something to desired.
After a couple more minutes of insanity Iruka sensei showed up (and much to the Uzumaki's annoyance Mizuki came too) and started handing out the written exams, making sure to check for genjutsus masked test intended to either, A) make it easier for the Uchiha to pass, or B) fail the Uzumaki's with a harder exam.
"You have two hours, good luck" Iruka said.
BREAK.
Outside the academy a large number of ninja had gathered to obsurve this years gennin exams. With the large number of clan heirs and heiresses in this batch the number of obsurvers was higher then normal as all the invalved clans sent some of their members to gauge the strength of the child and the strength of the competition.
"Pretty strong crop this year" an older man in a blue jonnin's jumpsuit said as he lit another canser stick. Next to him a young woman with black hair and red eyes snorted.
"After you screen out all the hangers on and the slaggs!"
"Now now Asuma, Kurenai don't go judging them before we knew who passes" a silver haired jonnin with a face mask and his headband over one eye said without even looking up from his book. He, like everyone else, was waiting for the end of the test when the practical exams would start.
After the written test was over the gennin wunnabis moved outside for an obstical course followed by a shuriken range, a strength test and a practical jutsus test before the students returned to the shuriken range. The one eye'd jonnin looked up from his book as Iruka stepped in front of the class. Now the fun would really begin.
BREAK.
"Alright class listen up!, this is the extra credit portion of the exam. If you have any extra techniques you may demanstrate them for ten extra credit points each" the class was looking excited at the chance to earn some extra points and (almost) everyone started figiting as they awaited their turn.
"First up, Shino Aburame" Shino shifted his sunglasses slightly before walking forward with his hand in the tradional Aburame trenchcoat. He felt no real need to 'show off' as his father would put it, no he just wanted to insure that he was in the upper half of the class score wise, ya that was it.
First Shino created a clone with his bugs, then he had the bugs fly down the range and reduce a target to sawdust. content with his twenty points Shino walked back to his seat, his high callor hiding his smirk from everyone.
Next Chogi Akimichi demanstrated his clans expansion jutsus and his Human boulder technique. The next person with anything was Sakura Haruno, She was tired but very determained to show Susake just how strong of a ninja she was.
First she reached into her pack and withdraw a pair of large shurikens, which she held up for Iruka and Mizuki, then she slid them together in her hand then spun and launched them towards the target. The first came in straight and baried itself into the targets head while the second stayed in the firsts shadow and impacted the belly region. "Shadow Shuriken Jutsus".
Then Sakura turned to Mizuki and flashed through some hand signs. Mizuki seemed to wobble for a moment before falling over and snoring loudly. "Forced Sleep Jutsus".
Sakura was starting to feel the exgaustion now and knew that this next jutsus would be her last so she went all or nothing and drew on every last ounce of chakra she could throw into this. Iruka started to get worried, Sakura's reserves of chakra were smaller then most of her classmates, and she had used alot of strength in the easilier exams.
"Sakur-"
"FIRE STYLE PHOENIX FLOWER JUTSUS!" Sakura sent twelve blue white balls of fire corkscrewing down the range, where each hit with explosive power equal to a midsized paper bomb. But now Sakura had to pay the piper for her actions, she was completely spent and couldn't even finish turning around before her legs gave out. But before she could fall more then a few inches she was caught by someone and held upright. At first Sakura thought that Susake had finally acknewledged her strength but quickly rejected that thought. Why, Susake didn't have breasts, and whoever just caught her had at least C-cups.
"Hey Naruto, come give me ah hand" Sakura know that voice, Kushina Uzumaki. Then another pair of hands grabbed her arm, 'that most be Naruto' she thought as her helpers half carried half dragged her off the range and placed her aguinst a tree. Sakura let her body relax into the tree and after a minute of steady breathing managed to force her eyes open so she could look around. Naruto was kneeling next to her with a hand on her shoulder, holding her up, while Kushina was messing with a water bottle a few feet away.
"Thank you" Sakura managed to whisper as Kushina force the, now green tinted, water bottle into her hands.
"Your welcome sprat, now CHUG IT" Kushina yelled the last part and soon was joined by Naruto, Chogi, Kiba and Ino in the immortal 'Chug Chug' chant. Sakura couldn't fight the giggles before she chugged the bottle and a few seconds later she could feel her scences clearing and figured that she now had enough energy to walk home if someone walked with her. Sakura spent the next few minutes dozing as Hinata, Kiba, Shikamaru and Sasake each took their turns, though Sasake seemed pretty upset that he only got twenty points.
"Kushina and Naruto Uzumaki" the two flashed a victory sign at their friends as walked up to the firing line. Hinata watched them walk away with a worried look on her face, she was the closest of anyone at the academy to the Uzumaki's and still she knew that they hadn't told her everything about themselves, she really didn't expect them too. But she had hoped that they would have acknawledged her more and accepted some of the invites to come over that she had offered them, but they always had an excuse ready whenever she came around. Hanabi and Natsumi were starting to get worried that they'd never get to thank their rescuers and the clan felt that such a meeting could be benifical to the future of the Hyuga. But at least they had let Hinata train with them a little bit.
"There gos the rookie of the year spot" Shikamaru said as he watched the two orange clad jokesters approached the firing line. Ino gave Shika a disgruntled look but keep her peace.
"Start whenever your ready" Iruka said as he stepped back. Naruto and Kushina nodded before turning to the targets. they each started to form handsigns before each pulled a single shuriken from their hip holsters, Naruto's were a simple square design with sharpened edges while Kushina's looked like four pointed stars that had only one side sharpened. Both types were thicker and larger then the standard ones used by most students. The shurikens were sent whistiling down range as the Uzumaki's made one final hand sign to finish their first jutsus.
"Shuriken Kage Bushin no Jutsus!" the single projectiles suddenly become a storm of steel that riped through the targets like an Akimichi through free, all you can eat barbecue. The entier class (and all the secret watchers) sat dumb founded at the display of firepower when it dawned on them that the two were only getting warmed up, for Naruto and Kushina had already started forming handsigns aguin.
"Fire Style, Flamethrower Jutsus!" the Uzumaki's brought a hand to their mouths as they each took a deep breath before expelling it between the thumb and first finger to form a tight colume of flame which they fanned back and forth over the range, torching any targets not shredded the their first jutsus. With the range now burning nicely they stopped the fire jutsus and reached for a design embroidered on the left cargo pocket of their shorts. A puff of smoke later and each was holding a ninto with an orange, swirl shaped handguard. They spun the blade in a circle once before raising it over their heads and slashing downwards. As the blade decended a blade of wind formed along its path and at the end of the sword swing the wind blade launched forward, curving a furrow through the flaming targets before blasting massive chucks out of the backstops, "Wind Style, lesser wind blast".
Iruka stood transfixed as he watched the school range burn. No student should have this much firepower, while no NORMAL student he corrected himself as he looked back to find the two Uzumaki's aguin making handsigns, 'oh no!'.
"Water Style, Firehose Jutsus" they went through most of the same movments as they did with the flamethrower jutsus but this time they shot high pressure water down the range and started putting the fires out. When they were done they turned to Iruka with a pair of nerves chuckles.
"Sorry Iruka-sensei" Kushina started.
"We got a little carried away there" Naruto finished.
"Please tell me your done" Iruka cried as he though of the money he'd have to spend to have the range rebuilted.
"Just one more" Kushina said as she and Naruto started forming handsigns aguin. Iruka started to panick wondering what highly destructive jutsus they'd use next when he realized that they had spred out and that he was having a hard time seeing them through the slow forming fog banks.
"Water Style, Hidden Mist Jutsus" Iruka relaxed slightly as he made sure that both jutsus had been done correctly before calling to the brats that their techniquies were good and to cancel them. As the mist cleaned though he was suprised to see Ino standing in front of him, he just shrugged it off and let Ino proform her techniquies.
BREAK.
The hidden observers were in a state of shock, they had just seen a pair of ACADEMY STUDENTS fire off five midrank jutsus without breaking a sweat when it should have been impossible for them to proform one or two without passing out like Haruno had.
"Damnnn!" Asuma said as he watched the Uzumaki's return to keep an eye on Sakura for the final minutes of the exam. Kurenai was in a state of shock and keep muttering to herself to not get in these gennins way. Kakashi just look interiged as he watched before his lone eye shifted to a branch ten feet above him.
"You Uzumaki's don't mess around" He stated as he looked up at Nami as she stood on the branch and looked down on her charges through her mask. If the other watchers could have seen her face they'd have seen pure joy and pride as she looked upon her charges. They had passed the exam in a way that fit with the Uzumaki clan doctrin, for they had left nothing to chance, and now she had the pleasure of annoucing it to the whole clan. Nami jumped off her branch and raced towards the gathering of students below. It was time to announce to the whole world just who claimed Naruto and Kushina's allegaince.
BREAK.
"Uchiha, Sasake" Sasake walked forward to accept his headband as his fangirls cheered and the civilian council and the teachers pelitely clapped. He had no dought in his mind that he was going to be Rookie of the year. He was the last Uchiha and a prodigy, he deserved the honour even if he had only gotten twenty bonus points.
It still steamed him to no end that five others had gotten more bonus points then him, FIVE, and four of them had been Kunoichi's. It was bad enough lossing to Naruto but at least he was a worthy opponent, but to loss to Naruto's sister who was just as dumb as her brother just rubbed salt in the wound. Then their was that crybaby Hinata, who couldn't even get training from her own clan anymore. And the two fangirls Ino and Sakura, who cared more about clothes and makeup then they did about training. In fact the only good thing about any of them was that Ino was an undesputed clan heiress.
Sasake walked back to his seat to more clapping and cheering, content to brood on his own superiority.
BREAK.
The Third Hokage watched Sasake walk back to his seat with a sence of failer. He had been unable to provent the council from spoiling the boy just as he couldn't provent them from tormenting Naruto and Kushina. He had wanted to put Sasake in the protective care of one of the other clans and to have him see a psycitrist after the massacure but the council just blow it off as fear mungering. He had also wanted him keep out of the ninja corp so that his chances of reviving his clan would be higher, but they wanted a powerful Uchiha to parade around for the masses and to scare the enemy with.
One look at the heads of the various clans that had children proticapating in this class showed how little the last Uchiha had endeared himself to the other clans. Only Ino Yamanaka clapped with any enthosiasum, with all the rest being pity applause at best. He chuckled when he noticed the nerves looks Kushina and Naruto were flashing around. They had been firmly surrounded by the head families of the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans and were currently being attended (smothered) by Hanabi and Natsumi Hyuga. Much to the amusement of everyone around them.
It wasn't the two eight year old that were causing the Uzumaki's discomfirt though, it was the fact that they were surrounded by adults who they didn't know, and who were powerful enough to cause them serious harm. They were so caught up in this fear that they didn't notice that everyone was looking out not in, well not unless it was to laugh at the two little Hyuga's antics.
No if anything having Hanabi and Natsumi on their laps should have give'n them some level of comfort. The Hyuga clan wouldn't attack them with the little ones around and would intercepted any attacks, at least until the youngsters were clear.
Kushina choose that moment to make eye contact with the old Hokage and silently ply for it to be over. Sarutobi could only grin and mouth 'a little longer' to the desperate girl, and got a glare in return that promised trouble if he lied. Just then an eighteen year old girl in black combat boots and tights, with a red pleated miniskirt and a red t-shirt under a black duster appeared on the stage next to the Hokage.
"My appallagies Hokage-sama, but it took me a second to find them and get back here" the girl said as she handed a box to the Hokage. Sarutobi just smiled at the girl before he turned back to the now settled crowd.
"Ladies an gentleman if I could have your attention. We have just three more graduates to honor before we can go party so please bare with me" the crowd leaned in eagerly as the Hokage continued "this next pair seem to do everything togther so I'm going to give them their headbands togther. Would Naruto and Kushina Uzumaki please come forward".
The Uzumaki's extracted themselves from Hanabi and Natsumi and started to walk towards to stage. As they approached the kids felt a near constant barrage of hate thrown their way from the civilians but there was something else mix in, a warm feeling that originated from the spot they had just left as well as about a dazon or so other places scattered around the academy grounds.
As they mounted the stairs Naruto and Kushina slipped into their happy go lucky masks that they wore to hide the pain they felt from the rest of the village. Inoichi Yamanaka didn't like that they had to resort to this and he didn't need to see the faces of his fellow clan heads to know that they agreed with him, hell he could hear Tsume's growls from three sections away!
"As many of you know, there isn't an Uzumaki clan in Konoha. Not that it dosn't exist it just isn't here. The Uzumaki are by far the most powerful independant clan in existance, and they've been very determined to maintain that independance for as long as possible, but several years ago the Uzumaki clan head approach the Fourth Hokage about a possible alliance with our village." Sarutobi missed the glares shot at him by the three who represented the Uzumaki. It was the leaf that had approached them! And the Fourth had been content to leave the alliance at just that, an alliance, not the binding settlement that the Third had and was pushing.
And he wasn't fooling the clan heads either. many of them had been at the treaty signings that the Third and later the Forth had with the Uzumaki.
"To show their seriousness in this matter, they sent two of their youngsters to live with us." here the Hokage indicated Naruto and Kushina before he turned back to the crowd with a hard expression on his face, "The Uzumaki are also one of the oldest clans still around. In fact many of the clans that would later come together to form Konoha started out as branch families of the Uzumaki, and as a sign of our founders gratitude for their help in creating this village most ninja over the rank of Chunnin ware a flak vest with the Uzumaki spiral on the back". The crowd stared at the Hokage nervously as he turned to the young woman behind the two kids and extended his hand, the woman smile and held out a small lacured box with a fadded orange spiral on the lid. The Hokage opened the box and reached inside, pulling out two, slightly turnished, headbands with orange silk backings. With these in hand he turned back to the audiance.
"As these two technically belong to a group other then the Leaf and have passed the exam to the standard of the clan I think it reasonable to give them their clan headbands instead of those of the Hidden Leaf." Sarutobi then turned and tied an Uzumaki Spiral onto Naruto and Kushina's foreheads.
BREAK.
Several hundred meters away a man with pink hair sat in a third story watching the graduation ceremony through the scope of the heavy crossbow that he had set up on a table, well out of view of anyone outside of the room.
The crossbow had spring steel arms nearly three feet long and a draw weight of three hundred pounds, It would easily hurl the two foot bolt six hundred meters with enough power to punch clean through a man. But pinky didn't think his targets were human so he had wrapped the bolt in explosive tags to give it more power, enough that there would be a six foot crater when they went off.
Through the scope the man saw the Hokage turn to present the demons with their headbands, he had been waiting for this moment as he made some final correction to his aim point and fired. The crossbow made a loud thud as it sent its bolt hurtling towards its target. The man dumped some chakra into a sealing scoll the instant he pulled the trigger, sealing the crossbow away before he pocketted the scoll and was walking out the door when he heard the bolt explode.
BREAK.
The Hokage had barely turned around to announce that the Uzumaki's had tied for the rookie of the year award when he felt something wizze past his face before hitting the wooden stage with a loud thunk followed by an even louder sizzeling sound. Sarutobi like any other ninja knew the sound of paper bombs anywhere and immeaditly launched a substitution jutsus, landing him along with some of the council just outside the academy walls.
Naruto and Kushina were aiming for different targets from the Hokage. They switched themselves with the chairs that Natsume and Hanabi sitting on, rendering the girls momentarily suppendend in mid air before Naruto and Kushina appeared under them, spun the girls around and protectivily covered them before being tackled by the girls siblings and mothers, Hiashi would have joined the pile but he had been tackled by a pair of branch members.
All around the parade grounds ninja despressetly scrambled to either take cover or get to friends and family before the bombs went off. Many of them made it, if only just.
KABOOOOOM!.
BREAK. Chapter End.
Sorry for the wait, I got distracted with other work.