Fates Web

Chapter Four: Graduation

Author Notes: I hope everyone is faring well since my last update. I am looking for a beta currently, so if anyone has some constructive criticism in the mean time I would be very thankful.

Quick heads up. I view Sakura very negatively in part one, so don't crucify me for portraying her badly. I won't bash her but I will make her work for her importance in the story. Naruto will not have a crush on her like in Canon. Hinata's death really hit him hard and she is all he thinks about, so romance isn't on his mind. Sakura will play a bigger role later on.

III = Interlude/ character perspective switch.

Bold text = Inner voice/ something important speaking.

There will be no crossovers, or characters from other shows.

The sun radiated it's life giving light upon the world. Clear Blue skies the color of the crystalline blue ocean gifted those below a beautiful view of the soft misty white clouds, and those who gazed upon them felt a sense of wonder.

She would have loved it Naruto mused.

The academy finals were approaching and he needed a way to pass. Despite his so called 'friends' perception of the blond oaf; he was very much intelligent. Behind the exterior of a foolish attention hungry prankster was a calculating and prodigious child. The only reason he was bottom of the barrel in class was because biased academy teacher's kicked him out of class or gave him detention for no reason. It was pure luck when Iruka started working at the academy. The kindly scarred chunin made sure no one mistreated the blonde on his watch, but the damage was already done and Naruto's abysmal chakra control and Ninjutsu scores put him behind even the pathetic Civilian born Haruno.

He glared at the sky, cursing whatever cruel god gave man chakra, and subsequently took away the only person to truly see him for who he was. He snatched up his belongings and began walking to the academy.

The villagers barely gave him any hateful looks, too afraid now. Some of them even moved out of the way and froze in fear. In the last two years he had changed greatly. No longer did he silently take their angry stares, their overpriced food, or their snarky comments.

Two years ago he had come begging to a vegetable stand. His small body looked sickly and his skin clung to his bones. His eyes had sunken in and dark rings surrounded them.

'Yes, I remember it like yesterday'

Flashback

Naruto's small broken body kneeled in front of the merchant, "P-please sir I just need something to eat."

The Merchant sneered. The man was slightly overweight and had a tan healthy flush. He looked down at the orphan and laughed, "So the little demon brat comes to MY stand and begs for mercy!"

Naruto trembled as the man took out a large knife. Naruto fell on his back and slowly crawled away as the man advanced, "S-stop!"

"I don't tolerate demons in my stand."

The knife was swift and red ichor dripped onto the earth.

Bloodshot eyes stared in shock at the knife in his ribs. Naruto coldly twisted the blade and the man collapsed, eyes wide in disbelief.

GASP!

"Murderer!"

"The demon just killed someone!"

Blood dripped down Naruto's face. He pointed the knife at the crowd of terrified villagers, "Hear me Villagers of Konoha! Today is the last I will ever take any of your shit."

Anbu soon arrived to take the blood soaked boy away. A guilt ridden Hiruzen pardoned him as it had been self defense and nothing could be done.

Flashback Over

He smiled at the memory. Since that day the villagers had left him alone. Parents made their children avoid him. His only friend was a dark skinned boy from Kumo. Dai was very similar to him.

The kumogakure boy was hated and feared for his distinctive dark skin which was only native to their most hated enemy. Jeers and liberal use of the N-word assailed the foreign orphan every day, but he stayed strong and refused to play their game. He wasn't going to give into their hate.

The boy had earned Naruto's respect. If anyone in the entire world could understand him it was Dai and Sasuke.

Sasuke was different, but more similar than you would think. The last Uchiha was practically worshipped by the entire populace, but were they worshipping Sasuke or the clan he represented?

Loving everyone was the same as loving no one, and that was especially true of Sasuke. His own older sibling had massacred his entire clan in one night and tortured the boy with a genjutsu. The village's love for Sasuke was shallow and made Naruto truly pity him.

Speaking of...

"Hey Naruto!" Dai waved.

He gave a nod and walked into the academy with his best friend.

Dai slapped Naruto on the back, "So I hear you found yourself a girlfriend."

He sputtered, "W-what?!"

A mischievous twinkle sparkled in Dai's eye, "Why a certain pink haired howler monkey of course."

"Hahaha" Naruto leaned on a wall for support, "You had me for a minute."

Dai snickered, "Don't say you heard from me but rumor is that her mother has it out bad for you."

Naruto snorted, "That Civilian council bitch Sayako is always trying find a reason to make my life harder." He remembered that time when he and Dai had snuck itching powder into all the Anbu uniforms. The stuck up Haruno had demanded the De-prankster be put in prison. Of course the Sandaime had laughed and not so kindly removed her from his office.

Dai rubbed the back of his head, "Man, don't I know. I remember when you convinced me to help you paint the Hokage Mountain in broad daylight. How did we even pull that off?"

Naruto shrugged, "Not sure, but we did it."

"You're going to get us expelled one day."

He waved Dai's concern off, "Jiji won't let that happen."

"*Sigh* I hope you're right."

The duo arrived at the classroom and ignored their yearmates bustling around them. The crowd parted and they walked inside.

The room suddenly become very, very silent. You might hear a pin drop as just about everyone turns to look at them. Mops of black and brown bobbed in whispers as "those two" arrived.

If any of the stares and whispers bothered Naruto he did not show it. Calmly he took his place next to Sasuke's seat with Dai to his left.

Iruka sat slouched in his desk shuffling papers for the lesson about to start.

'Like any of this is going to help us survive. At least I'm sitting beside real shinobi'

The moment that thought flies through his head a spiky mop of black hair slips through the doorway, and he smiles at the aforementioned ninja himself. Sasuke Uchiha walked into class brooding with his hands held comfortably in his pockets.

It was pure luck that he had been labeled the dead last. Now he would be partnered with the rookie of the year, and if he could convince Jiji maybe he could get Dai on his team as well. The useless Haruno would only weigh them down, and he wouldn't need to worry about Sakura falling into an enemy trap because of her inattention caused by her foolish crush on the last Uchiha.

With measured steps Sasuke brushed off his fangirls and spotted them. The cold Uchiha's face melted slightly, before his expression morphed into a barely detectable smile.

"Dobe"

"Bastard"

The two's eyes met, words not needed as a silent message was exchanged. Sasuke was the first one to break. The Uchiha's prideful smirk adorned his face and he took his seat next to his 'friends'.

It had started off as something innocuous. Naruto had been a good training partner. His unending stamina and grit served as a good 'live' practice dummy for the Uchiha and he occasionally tried to correct some of his abysmal stances. Eventually a cool rivalry had developed between the two and to this day it helped distract them from their own demons.

Iruka only sighs and shakes his head at his trouble students before starting to read out the list of students registered for the exams this year, "Now remember class - If you decide you think you need extra help all you need to do is ask and I will offer after school tutoring. If you fail this test you will be held back another year."

There's something deeply ironic seeing the so called "Genius Haruno" raising her hand and timidly ask for tutoring. Her body was just skin and bones with barely any muscle due to that idiotic diet she put herself on.

Soon Iruka called them up for taijutsu spars.

"Sasuke Uchiha vs Naruto Uzumaki" Called Mizuki-Sensei's voice.

Voices broke out in excited whispers as he made his way down to the sparing mat. Soon enough he was staring down his arch rival.

There is a moment where his rivals eyes widen and he takes a step forward on instinct, then he spreads his arms out in the Uchiha interceptor fist. "Bring it dobe", he taunts, though it lacks any bite.

Naruto returned the taunt with one of his own, "What's the hurry?" He met the Uchiha's dark eyes, "Want to get your thrashing over with so soon?"

"Hn" Sasuke slid into a defensive stance and waited.

Naruto growled and adopted an unrefined and sloppy stance with his left hand held out and his right arm kept close to his face. The two made no move to advance, and merely stood still.

"Hey what is the deal?"

"Yeah get on with it already!"

Seconds turned into minutes and even the Sensei's were getting annoyed. Sensing the need to move the boys sprinted at each other and their fists met in a clash.

Naruto sprung in the air and launched a savage right hook. Sasuke skillfully pivoted on the ball of his left food and saddled the side of Naruto's right arm, and grabbed him by the bicep and wrist. Sasuke twisted the wrist and swung Naruto over him.

Naruto skid for several feet. He shakily got up on his knees, "That hurt you bastard!"

"Hn, maybe you shouldn't have rushed me."

Naruto roared and ran straight for Sasuke. The Uchiha chuckled, "I thought you would have learned by now you ca-"

Naruto dropped to the ground and grabbed the boy by the shin. Sasuke yelped as Naruto punched the boy below the kneecap and watched with satisfaction as the Uchiha collapsed.

Sasuke's other leg lashed out kicking Naruto in the face, "Let go you dobe!"

Naruto spit out a glob of blood and held on to the leg, "Never." He held fast and jammed a thumb in the soft tissue behind the knee.

Sasuke went taut and grit his teeth in silent agony.

"Alright that's enough, spars over." Mizuki stepped in and Naruto released the panting Uchiha.

Sasuke met his face and glowered, "Next time I won't go so easy on you."

Naruto let a cocky grin split his face, "It's good to see you that you still have that Uchiha pride."

Unsure if this was a complement Sasuke did the first thing that came to mind, "Hn"

Returning to their seats Naruto gave Dai a fist bump.

"Dude that was so cool. Where did you learn that move?" Dai asked with amazement at Naruto's underhanded victory over the rookie of the year.

"When you struggle to survive on the streets you learn a few tricks" He commented.

Dai blinked, "That's messed up."

Naruto Shrugged, "You either adapt or you die in this world. You can't stay innocent in a world of death like this."

"Yeah I guess..." A little put off Dai faced away from him in thought.

'After all I was innocent once. I tried to play the hero, and she paid for it.'

III

Naruto's brain struggled to compute what he had just been told, "What?"

Iruka gave him a sad frown, "I'm sorry but you fail."

He looked at the academy teacher at a loss. Was he hearing this right? This couldn't be happening. He had aced the written test and mastered two of the academy three. He displayed masterful usage of Henge and Kawarimi. It was that thrice damned bunshin!

He seethed in rage. Mizuki traded looks with Iruka, "Hey now Iruka, surely we can make an exception here. The bunshin isn't that important."

Iruka sighed, "I wish I could but the academy curriculum is set and if a student fails one of the basic three then they cannot pass. I'm sorry Naruto but you fail."

Nails dug into flesh as Naruto's fists bled. He leveled a icy stare at the teacher's, "Whatever", and like that walked away.

Iruka made to follow after him, "I should probably go talk with him."

Mizuki grabbed Iruka by the arm, "No wait!" Seeing he had Iruka's attention he spoke, "let me go talk to him. You've had a hard week, go home and relax."

Iruka hesitated, "I guess I could use a break...thanks Mizuki"

The White haired Chunin showed his pearly whites, "No, thank you."

III

Naruto smiled as Iruka placed a forehead protector on his head. Anbu hauled the beaten Mizuki to his feet and cuffed him.

"Naruto I am so proud of you."

Naruto wiped the tears from his face, "Thanks Sensei. Now I can finally become a ninja."

The two stared at the rising sun and walked back to the village.