Chapter 01 – Dawn of this generation's heroes.
*Anko's apartment*
The first jonin mission is supposed to be the best one. The one you tell all your friends and family about when you grow older. Looking back at all that extra time and effort she spent training just to be recognized as one of Konoha's elite and take one more step in her final goal for revenge against a certain man. What did all that get her, in an ANBU squad? Nope. A bunch of cool solo missions? Nope. Now she was just a glorified baby sitter for the most annoying, bull-headed, kid she had ever met.
"NO! For the last time you can't take your swords to class with you!" Anko yelled as she played tug of war with her green haired nightmare's weapons of choice.
"Listen here! I'm not going anywhere without them! "Zoro retorted, still not fully trusting of this new village he was in.
'This was getting me nowhere.' Anko thought as she was starting to lose to Zoro's freakish strength. 'Ok if that's how you wana play.' With a couple of quick hand signs a snake started to crawl down Anko's arm and started to wrap themselves around Zoro's swords.
The reptile didn't go unnoticed for long. Zoro quickly spotted the snake, using his quick reflexes he grabbed subconsciously fearing that Anko might be bitten.
Using this opening Anko snatched the swords completely out of Zoro's grasps before he noticed where the reptile had originated from. "That's a dirty trick!" Zoro yelled outraged that he actually cared for her safety. Anko released the justu while wearing the biggest smirk she could muster that early in the morning.
"You can't take these to the academy." Anko said wagging a finger in his face. "You're not even a genin yet."
"Genie?" Zoro asked with a quizzical look on his face.
"No genin you idiot!" She retorted. "Now get ready you have to leave soon." Then she walked out of Zoro's room swords in hand closing the door behind her.
She could hear Zoro swearing all the way thru the door. Anko looked down at the swords. Then she remembered how much he changed from when they initially met inside the hospital room when he didn't have them till the time he was in the Hokage's office with them on hand. They were an extension of him. She placed two of the swords on a table near her and drew the sword that Zoro used to attack the chunin yesterday in the office. The blade reflected the glare of the morning sun as she held it out. Then her curiosity got the best of her and she ran her finger along the edge of the blade. Blood started to trickle off of her finger.
"If he truly wanted to kill him…" She began to think as her mind started to drift from the sharpness of the blade to the complete mastery of it by the young Zoro. Then she heard the door start to open.
Quickly she resheathed the sword into its white scabbard and collected the other two swords in her hand and quickly ran into her room to hide them, trying to avoid another tug of war session with Zoro.
"Hey snake woman. Where are you?" Zoro called out causing Anko to twitch a little bit.
"What!" She yelled while making sure the swords where well hidden.
"Are you going to tell me where this academy is or do I have to find it on my own again like yesterday?" He asked.
The Anko's mind started to wonder again. With his sense of direction, if you could even call it that, he could be gone all day and not even come close to the academy building. Or even worse he could leave the village and never be seen again. This would be bad, mostly for her.
"Hold on Zoro. Let me change." She said. She changed into her usually ninja attire as quickly as she could and walked into the living room. "Zoro you ready to go?" She asked.
…. No answer.
"Zoro?" She called as she entered his room. He wasn't in there either. Then her heart sank. She busted into the bathroom. "Zoro?" She asked frantically but no one was in there either. He had left without her. All the stuff she thought about while she was hiding his swords came back with a vengeance. She started to pull her hair in frustration. "ZORO! IF I FIND YOU I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" She screamed as loud as she could.
*Third Hokage's office*
The elder Sarutobi stared out over the village he had protected so long. He usually wouldn't be up this early in the morning but today was different. A knock on the door and without a word of greeting three figures entered the room. Sarutobi turned around, sat at his desk, and began to prepare his pipe for what was going to be a long drawn out meeting. The atmosphere tensed at the pass of each moment.
"Good morning Homura, Koharu, Danzo." Sarutobi greeted as he lit his pipe and took a long drag. "Why have you called this meeting this early in the morning? Surely it could have waited till later in the day."
"It was brought to our attention that you are letting that boy we found in the forest stay in the village and attend the academy." Koharu stated.
Sarutobi nodded.
"We have nothing on that kid Sarutobi. He could be a spy from another village out to test our defenses or steal our village secrets." Homura said. "What you have done might have just doomed the village."
Sarutobi glared at his two former teammates then glanced up at Danzo. He knew that Homura and Koharu really loved the village and would put anything over the safety of the village even the life of a single child but this was Danzo's doing. Danzo had found out something about Zoro that he assumed no one else knew.
*Flashback* Konoha Hospital. 2 days after Zoro's initial admittance.
"And that's his current condition Hokage." The nurse said.
Sarutobi looked at the young green haired boy. The description of the kind and seriousness of his injuries it was clear to him that he wasn't just some kid who was abandoned by his parents or attacked by some wild animal, he was some kind of fighter. Obviously not a ninja with the way his chakra coils where associated but a very skilled fighter.
"Anything else sir?" The nurse asked breaking Sarutobi from his train of thought.
"No that will be all. Keep me informed if his condition changes." He answered. They both left the room. As soon as he took a couple of steps he sensed two new chakra signatures enter the room where Zoro rested. He recognized one of the signatures immediately.
'Danzo...' Sarutobi thought. He allowed the nurse to go ahead. Then in the blink of an eye he entered an empty room locking the door behind him. He lowered his chakra as low as possible. "Tomegane no Jutsu." Sarutobi said extending his hand. Then in a puff of smoke a crystal ball appeared. Focusing on his target an image of Danzo and what seemed to be a member of the Yamanaka clan. He focused more chakra into the technique so he could listen in on the two.
*Zoro's room*
"... don't sense him anymore Danzo" The Yamanaka male said.
"Good job Fu. We don't know how much time we have so begin the probe." Danzo instructed. With a nod Fu walked over to the bed of his intended target. He placed his hand on his head and began to probe his mind.
*Inside Zoro's mind*
Fu searched Zoro's mind. He wasn't as good as Inoichi was at this technique but he knew that he would be able to get the information he wanted, possible mission and battle strength of this kid. He decided to go for the easy data first. A person's past battles are usually the least protected data unless it's an assassination then determining his mission would be a little easier. It didn't take long for Fu to locate the battle data for this kid. Then the utter intensity of the memories started to overpower Fu and he was forced view the data through the eyes of Zoro. It started with the brutal battle with Cabaji, then his run in with the "world" strongest swordsman Mihawk, to the run-in with some weird fishmen, to his fight with a man with an unknown kekkei genkai named Mr. 1. These memories where to vivid for Fu to handle and he began trying to force his hand to let go of Zoro to break the link as the memories continued to roll on.
*Konoha Hospital*
Danzo observed the look on Fu's face. He was experiencing something intense. The movement of his eyes was very rapid. His face was contorting like he was in some kind of pain. Danzo saw that Fu's hand had started to inch off of the kid showing he was trying to break the link. Danzo walked over and used his hand to keep Fu's in place keeping his link to the kid. Danzo looked up at Fu's facial expression as they shifted and contorted then Fu began to bleed from the ears. Danzo pulled Fu's hand off of the kid breaking the link. Fu snatched his hand away from Danzo and began to search his body for wounds.
Danzo waited for Fu to calm down a little bit before he asked. "What did you see? What did you find out?"
Fu still shaken by the intensity of what he saw took a second to compose himself before he answered. "This kid his name is Roronoa Zoro. He is not a spy from another village nor is he associated with any of them, he is a swordsman from where I wasn't able to determine." Fu said. "T-T-this kid is very powerful. I witnessed some of his recent battles and his endurance, skill, power, and potential seem limitless. If we were to bring him into our fold he could make Root untouchable. If not he should be killed. If he decides to stay here he would be a great threat to your plans."
Danzo looked at the kid. 'Maybe the initial reports of the altercation he had with the people who found him weren't lies.' Danzo thought. "As soon as he wakes up make sure he finds his way to us and nowhere else. Assign someone to keep watch over him and take him away when he awakens. I'll prepare a story for his disappearance." Danzo said. "And a body."
"Yes sir!" Fu said then the two root members disappeared.
*Sarutobi's location*
Sarutobi sent the crystal ball back from where it came from. He had gotten more information from this trip than he thought he would get. He had to act fast and counter this without letting on what he knew.
*End Flashback*
*Back at Hokage office*
Danzo stood by watching the conversation between the Konoha council and the Hokage. The more they pressed him on the situation the more he provided evidence that he had everything under control. Slowly but surely Homura and Koharu started to open up and accept the idea of letting this Zoro kid stay in the village as a citizen. Danzo silently seethe at the fact that he lost a potential tool in his plans of taking over Konoha. He had heard enough. He turned around and walked away from the meeting that he thought had a chance of going his way due to the altercation in this very place yesterday. Back to the drawing board and now he had to add another variable to go along with the holder of the nine tailed fox.
*Konoha Streets*
Ino was ready for another day at the academy. After an unusual end to an otherwise uneventful day she was kind of ready for another boring academy day. Also she had to get back at that forehead girl for what she had done to her. She continued to walk towards the academy when she spotted the cause of her current problems. Zoro was walking the opposite direction as she was.
"Good morning Zoro." Ino said as she greeted him with a smile.
"Hey Ino." Zoro returned with is usual stern look.
"What are you headed today?" She asked.
"Going to the academy." Zoro said as he passed her.
Ino stopped and reached out to Zoro grabbing his arm. "Did you say the academy?" She asked.
"Yeah. One of my neighbors was nice enough to give me directions." Ino couldn't believe it.
She had heard that some people have a bad sense of direction but this is ridiculous. "Come on Zoro I'll … show you the way." Ino said.
"I'm pretty sure..." Zoro tried to say before Ino began dragging him down the street.
*Rooftops*
Anko let out a sigh of relief. She currently watched the turn of events. While looking for Zoro she ran into Hatake Kakashi and Sarutobi Asuma. Luckily they were assigned to watch over Zoro for the next couple of days as a way to wind down from the mission they had just returned from.
"I should put a collar on him and keep him on a leash!" Anko raged.
Asuma and Kakashi smiled at the comical frustration of the young Anko.
"He'll get to the academy. We watched him leave your place this morning so he was really in no danger." Asuma said as he lit up a cigarette.
"If you keep this up you'll start to get grey hair." Kakashi chimed in.
'These two let me run around like a madwoman...' Anko thought letting out small blush of embarrassment. "So if the Hokage have ya'll watching him, I'm gonna go." She said after she recomposed herself.
Kakashi and Asuma just raised a hand to bid her farewell as she left for parts unknown.
*Konoha Ninja Academy*
Zoro was standing in front of the class waiting for the teacher to come in. Despite the little detours he and Ino had taken on the way there, they made it to class with time to spare. He scanned the room. The kids were all whispering random stuff about him. Zoro noticed a lot of weird people in this room. A boy with a puppy, a girl with solid white eyes who turned slightly red as Zoro looked at her. A fat kid, a boy already sleep, that weird pink haired girl from yesterday, and a kid with a goggles on his head and whisker marks on his face. This was a weird bunch of kids.
"Hey moss head!" The kid with goggles yelled at him.
Zoro twitched a little at the nickname but decided to ignore the kid.
"I know you hear me moss head." Zoro's face started to contort with anger.
"Shut up, Naruto!" Ino yelled from her seat. "He just got here and you're aready bothering him."
"Look at Ino-pig defends her new boyfriend." The pink haired girl from yesterday retorted.
"S-shut up forehead girl!" Ino said. The two rivals started hurling insults at each other as others started to talk about the arguing girls and the new student.
"Alright class settle down." A voice commanded and immediately all chatter stopped.
Zoro turned to the voice to see a man in what to him seemed to be the standard uniform for these ninjas, a scar on his nose, and his hair in a ponytail.
"As you can see we have a new student." The older man said. He turned to Zoro. "Hi my name is Umino Iruka and I will be your instructor. Please, introduce yourself to the class please."
"Roronoa Zoro." He said displaying no emotions.
'Great, another one like the Uchiha.' Iruka thought. "Ok Zoro, you can take a seat by Naruto." He said as he pointed to the empty seat by the kid with the goggles.
Zoro walked over to his new assigned seat. As he sat down the goggle kid continued to look at him with a goofy grin that rivaled the one Luffy did.
"Uzumaki Naruto. Nice to meet ya." The goggled boy introduced himself and held out his hand.
Zoro gave him a stern glance not returning the gesture.
"So where are you from? Haven't seen you around town. I'd remember that shade of green hair anyway, moss head." Naruto continued.
Zoro face started to show how annoyed he was getting.
"Yeesh. Are you sore because I called you moss head, moss head?" Naruto asked.
"Don't call me that!" Zoro yelled breaking this calm demeanor.
The whole classroom turned to the two that caused the outburst couple of people started laughing and someone complained about another troublesome person joining the class.
Naruto laughed felling a sense of victory on how he caused the new guy to lose his demeanor.
"Naruto, Zoro if you too are done I would like to start class." Iruka said.
"Yes! Iruka-sensei!" Naruto said as Zoro just folded his arms.
'Definitely like Luffy.' Zoro thought.
*Two hours Later in the School Yard training ring.*
Iruka stood by the building looking over the dossier he received on Roronoa Zoro.
"Ninjustu knowledge: unknown. Taijustu knowledge: Unknown. Genjustu knowledge: unknown. Ninja tool skills: unknown. Misc.: appears skilled in Kenjustu. Forbidden to take his swords them around the village by Hokage until further notice." It read.
Today was supposed to be a little sparing exercise to test there skills in basic ninja combat, but with this new kid it had messed up the plan he had for the class. And the questions he asked him in class didn't go so well...
*flashback*
Iruka's lecture was going on as usual. He looked around the class and noticed that Zoro wasn't paying attention and was half asleep.
'Let's see how much he knows.' Iruka thought. "Zoro." Iruka called.
Zoro stirred from his state of near sleep. "Yes." He answered.
"Can you name the five basic elements?" He asked.
There was a few seconds of silence then... "Huh?" Zoro answered with a look of confusion on his face.
The class erupted in laughter.
"You might not be dead last anymore Naruto." Sasuke chimed in.
Naruto ignored Sasuke just murmuring bastard under his breath.
"Quiet down class. Ok Zoro. Can you show me the Ram seal?" Iruka asked still trying to gauge what Zoro knew.
Zoro hesitated for a few seconds then moved his hands and put them by his head simulating ram horns.
The class let out a roar of laughter and this time Iruka couldn't hold it in. Such a serious looking kid doing that. He started laughing with them.
*end flashback*
Iruka didn't want to hurt Zoro.
"Yo Iruka." A voice called from behind him. He turned around to see Asuma and Kakashi casually leaning against the wall.
"Hey Kakashi, Asuma. What brings you to the academy? I don't think we're choosing genin teams today. The next class graduates in three days." Iruka said as he returned to looking at his dossier.
"No, we are the people watching that kid today." Asuma said gesturing is cigarette towards Zoro.
Iruka nodded as he still pondered his situation. "Ok." Iruka said. "I will pair him against Naru-"
"Pair him against Sasuke." Kakashi interrupted.
"Wha! He didn't even bring ninja tools." Iruka said has he tried to pick his jaw off of the ground.
"Just do it. You can stop it before it gets too far out of hand." Kakashi said trying to reassure the chunin instructor.
Iruka Looked over his shoulders at his students lined up patiently waiting. "First up. Uchiha Sasuke vs. Roronoa Zoro." Iruka belted out still worried about Zoro's safety.
"Hmp. This is gonna be easy." Sasuke said as he entered the ring.
Zoro walked to the center of the ring without saying a word.
"Get him Sasuke!" Sakura yelled as the usual fan club cheered behind her.
"Go moss head! Show him what a dead last can do!" Naruto yelled.
"I'm not a dead last!" Zoro retorted.
"Enough stalling." Sasuke said as he pulled out a kunai and whirled it around before bringing it down in a basic stance.
Zoro looked around to get a feeling for his surrounding. Most of the class was standing by Sakura cheering on this Sasuke kid and Naruto was standing by himself. 'He must be an outcast.' Zoro thought as he focused his eyes on Sasuke.
"Aren't you worried about Sasuke getting hurt? Most people don't know what he did to that chunin." Asuma said as he took a drag from his cigarette.
"He's unarmed. I just want to gauge his strength for myself." Kakashi said as he put his book away to focus on the exhibition.
"OK. Keep it clean Sasuke. You're fighting an unarmed opponent. And Zoro don't overexert yourself." Iruka said as he signaled the fight to start.
Zoro couldn't believe what he just heard. Did Iruka think he was weak. But before he could say a word of protest Sasuke struck. He started slicing at Zoro. Zoro dodge all of the incoming attacks to the amazement of all around him. Sasuke was starting to get annoyed with this dead last: green haired version. It was time to end this. He tossed the kunai at Zoro who simply dodged it. Sasuke smirked. As Zoro was mid dodge he pulled out another kunai and stabbed at Zoro. Iruka was about to stop the fight when he and the rest of the class gasped. Zoro had caught Sasuke by the wrist stopping his attack cold. Sasuke tried to pull away but he could not break this kids grip. A little surprised by his strength, Sasuke attempted a roundhouse kick on Zoro to try to get him to let go. Zoro just simply blocked it with his free hand.
"Maybe you should give up." Zoro said slightly tightening his grip.
Then Sasuke started to hear the rest of the class start to talk.
"Sasuke is being outclassed by this kid? Maybe he isn't as strong as we thought." One voice said.
"Or maybe Zoro is just stronger. Sasuke can't be good at everything." Another voice said.
The last sentence rung in his head. He was the strongest here! Not this guy! He had to be the best. If he was going to get his revenge he had to be the best! So with that he dropped the kunai. Sasuke felt Zoro's grip relax a bit and on this he sprang into action. Sasuke reached into his pouch and grabbed a smoke bomb threw it into Zoro's face. Zoro let go of Sasuke as he rubbed his now stinging eyes. Sasuke started to take advantage of his temporarily blinded opponent and started hitting him with a barrage of punches and kicks.
'What a cheap trick.' Zoro though as he tried to block as much as he could with his diminished vision. Sasuke pulled out another kunai and jumped behind Zoro and went for the winning blow.
"Zoro behind you!" Ino called out before covering her mouth with her hands realizing what she just did.
Zoro turned around and could barely make out Sasuke but he threw a punch anyway. There was no way he was about to lose this match to someone who resorted to cheap tricks. Sasuke dodged the erratic blow but the force of the punch still hit him causing him to stagger backward.
'What! I dodged that blow!' Sasuke thought.
Asuma saw the look on Sasuke's face. "Hmm, that was a powerful blow." He said.
Kakashi nodded. "Gai's blows have similar effect. His strength must be uncanny for a kid his age." He said.
"What did he hit me with?" Sasuke thought as he could see the renewed focus in Zoro's eyes. A look that sent a chill down his spine. 'There's only one thing to do." He said as he distances himself from Zoro. Bringing his hands to the horse seal, he quickly when threw the proper seals. "Katon! Gokakyu no Jutsu!" Sasuke yelled.
"What!" Zoro yelled surprised by the attack. He barely had time to properly react to the huge fireball that Sasuke had sent his direction and the right side of his body was burnt.
Iruka had seen enough. After that brief show of strength and dexterity Zoro displayed, Sasuke was pretty much showing the difference in strategic knowledge and power between the two. He was going to stop this fight before it got any more out of hand. Kakashi put his hand on Iruka's shoulder and shook his head. "Wait. It's almost over." Kakashi said.
"Yeah I say. This Zoro kid is being outclassed." Iruka said "I'm stoping this now."
"Maybe the Hokage exaggerated his ability." Asuma said.
"Maybe not. Give him a few seconds." Kakashi responded as Zoro checked his body, accessing the damage done, and then took a new stance.
Iruka against his better judgement listened to Kakashi.
"Ready to give up!" Sasuke yelled extremely proud of himself. Then his cheering section started back up.
'I going to end this now.' Zoro thought as he stared at his opponent.
Sasuke was getting antsy. He was ready to claim his win and show this dead last his place.
"Kat-". Before he could finish the justu Zoro appeared in front of him.
The class gasps at the speed that Zoro moved while Asuma and Kakashi, who weren't expecting a speed burst of that magnitude, barely were able to track his movements.
"Mutoryu: Tatsu Maki!" Zoro yelled as he smashed Sasuke with his arms sending him flying out of the ring. Zoro watched as Iruka caught an unconscious Sasuke before he could go too far and placed him on the ground and making sure he was ok.
"Zoro's the winner." He declared satisfied with Sasuke's condition.
Zoro clenched his fists of his still slight burned arm. 'My strength is a little more than it was when I was originally this age. And my body seems to remember the techniques.' He thought. 'This may be a blessing in disguise. I can perfect my moves and become stronger than before.'
The rest of the class rushed over to check on Sasuke except Ino who walked slowly over to his side wondering why she warned Zoro of Sasuke's attack and Naruto who was running over to congratulate Zoro.
"Amazing!" Naruto said as he ran up to Zoro.
"Thanks." Zoro said.
"Maybe you can teach me that attack some day! It will help me when I become Hokage." Naruto said with a huge grin on his face.
Remembering Naruto's support of him during the match and his overall happy demeanor caused Zoro's usual stern face broke into a smile.
'This guy is too much like Luffy.' He thought.
"Ok class shows over. Back to the class room." Iruka said "I'll be there in a second."
Ino looked over at Zoro and Naruto. She broke away from the group and headed towards the two. "Naruto, don't let this guy lead anywhere. His sense of direction sucks." She said in a condescending tone.
"Don't blame me for you leading me the wrong way, Ino." Zoro retorted.
Ino grounded her fist into his burnt side. "Whaat..." She said not believing what she just heard.
Naruto laughed at the exchange.
"Ino, you didn't have to warn me of that attack." Zoro said as he turned to look at Ino. "But thanks." This caught her off guard and caused her to blush a little.
"Let's go Zoro. You can tell me what moves you're gonna teach me on our way back to class." Naruto said.
"Who said I was teaching you anything." Zoro said as he followed Naruto back leaving a still shocked Ino.
'W-why am I blushing!' she said. As she recomposed herself and followed the two boys leaving Iruka with the two jonin.
"No Sword style eh." Kakashi said as he pulled out his book.
"Kakashi. Who is this kid?" Iruka asked. "Where did he come from to require a jonin escort?"
"He's no threat." Asuma answered for the copy ninja. "He might have no knowledge of our ways but don't let that cause you to underestimate him."
'No knowledge of the ninja way...' Iruka thought to himself. "Thanks Kakashi, Asuma. I have to get back to my class" Iruka said as he walked back to the academy building.
*Academy classroom*
The mood had changed since the morning. The Sasuke "fan club" glared angrily at Zoro for embarrassing the object of their one-sided affections. Random other students crowded around Zoro barraging him with questions wondering how he got so strong and where he learned that technique. While a bandaged Sasuke was brooding. He had never lost to anyone in this class or any class. He was an Uchiha! One of Konoha's elite! Not some no name from who knows where. "This isn't over." Sasuke said as he glanced at his new rival.
*After school*
Naruto, Zoro, and Ino walked out of the school house together.
"So where do you live?" Naruto asked Zoro as they walked down the pathway.
"With some snake lady." Zoro said.
"Who are you calling snake lady, moss head?" Anko said from the school gate.
"I told you-!"
"Yeah yeah." Anko said interrupting Zoro. "Thanks Ino for showing this lost kid the way to the academy. Otherwise he would probably be in Kirigakure by now."
"It's nothing." Ino replied.
"Hey snake lady can you show me where you two live so I can at least know where to take him when you don't come?" Naruto asked.
"The name is Anko." She said as she hit Naruto in the head. "And that's not a bad idea. I won't have to get up early anymore!" The three kids sweatdrop.
"You commin Ino?" Zoro asked.
Ino sighed. "Might as well. You're like a lost puppy. I would like to know where to return you."
"Lost puppy huh..." Zoro said grinding his teeth.
Naruto and Anko laugh as the group makes their way to Anko and Zoro's place.
The day by day life of the displaced master of the Santoryu wouldn't change as time marched on. He learned the basics of chakra manipulation, but as much as they tried to teach him the basic of ninjutsu and genjustu he showed no signs of the ability to use either of the techniques. But when it came to Taijustu he was a natural, as expected. His "rivalry" with the young Uchiha survivor intensified also due to the fact that he has never really able to defeat Zoro one-on-one. Zoro was indifferent towards Sasuke and never actually considered him a rival. His circle of friends would stay quite small due to his association with Naruto and the fact that he was constantly under jonin supervision. The only people he could truly call a friend was Naruto, Anko, Ino, and Ten-Ten to a lesser extent, others would look thru him. Zoro continued to train extensively and with his new understanding of chakra he was able to improve his overall skill. Zoro slowly grew into his life as a citizen of Konoha, but that didn't mean he gave up on his first group of friends. He missed them and wondered how they were doing, if they ever got back together and continued their journey without him, or if they were looking for him.
*Time skip 2 years later*
"Zoro! Come on!" Ino yelled from outside Zoro's place.
"You don't want to be late for graduation day!" Zoro walked casually down the stairs and was greeted by his closest friends Ino and Naruto.
"I don't know how why I should be hurrying I won't pass this test anyway." He said as they started to walk towards the academy.
"Even Naruto makes better bushins than me." Making the orange clad kid smile.
"That's only because you can't make one." Ino said with a slight laugh.
"Hey..." A slightly angry Naruto reacted to the comment.
"Don't worry. Rock Lee was in your position last year and he somehow passed. You'll pass I'm sure of it." She said as she patted him on the back.
"Who says I'm worried about that? That damned snake lady hid my swords real good this time. The sooner I get to be a genin the sooner I get them back." Zoro said.
"Really? Is there a time when you two aren't arguing?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah after all of this time you would think they would be used to each other." Ino added.
Zoro ignored the two. They continued talk about random topics all the way to the academy.
*Academy Classroom*
Zoro, Naruto, and Ino entered the classroom. Zoro took his seat next to Kiba and Choji. Not even giving him time to settle in Sasuke approached him.
"So I guess this ends our rivalry, since you'll never pass this exam." Sasuke said with a smirk on his face. "I guess you'll be joining Naruto in the class next year. Hopefully it won't take to long for you to become a genin."
Zoro just sat there not feeling like getting into an argument with this smug kid today. He had other things to worry about.
Zoro's attitude... Sasuke hated it. He could keep his cool with everyone else he has ever ran into and most people adored him, but not this guy. He couldn't defeat this green haired freak and while all the other villagers ate out of his hands this kid openly defied him like his friend Naruto. While the little altercation happened, Iruka walked. He looked over at Zoro and Sasuke and shook his head.
"Alright class today is most your examination day." Iruka said. Sasuke gave Zoro one more condescending smirk and walked back to his seat. "Today is the day you all graduate and become genin. Zoro you're going to have to take a special test later today due to your unusual circumstance. So you can wait here as we go to the examination site. Someone will be here to watch you so don't go anywhere." Iruka said with emphasis on the final couple of words.
On that everyone else left the classroom and when they were all gone Kakashi walked in nose in book.
"So you today huh?" Zoro asked.
"Yeah." Kakashi said as he motioned Zoro to follow him.
"I thought I was going to just stay here today." Zoro said as he got up and followed the masked ninja.
"Well I'm going to drop you off at your training spot. We don't know how long this will take and I know how much you like train." Kakashi said.
"I have to get ready for tomorrow. Anko will get you for your test. Here." Kakashi threw Zoro a familiar white scabbard.
"How did you..."
"Anko told me to give you this. Just don't wonder off." Kakashi said. Zoro nodded in agreement then the two made their way to the appointed training spot.
*Unknown*
It didn't take Zoro long to forget what he agreed to and slowly make his way away from the assigned location. No longer in the clearing Kakashi dropped him off at, he was deep in the forest but it didn't seem to faze him. He was focused on his training. As he went thru the motions he heard a couple of familiar voices. Surprisingly he was able to find the source of the voices without much trouble and approached them identifying one as his teacher Iruka. As he approached them he saw a bruised and battered Naruto holding a giant scroll.
"Naruto! What are you doing here? Are you ok?" Zoro asked returning Wado Ichimonji to its scabbard.
"Ah! Zoro!" Naruto said in a hushed tone surprised to see the swordsman there. He motioned Zoro to be quiet and pointed to the source of the sound. Zoro looked around and saw Iruka leaned up against a tree and an unknown person with a giant shuriken on his back.
"Who is that?" Zoro asked as he put his hand on the hilt of the Wado. He looked down at Naruto after he didn't receive and answer. He noticed that Naruto was focused in on the conversation that Iruka and the unknown ninja was having and decided to listen in.
"Yeah Mizuki, the demon fox would do that. But Naruto is different." Iruka said in a labored voice.
"He is..?" Mizuki asked.
"I've acknowledged him as one of my excellent students." Iruka said. "He might not be the hardest worker, he's clumsy, and few accept him. He already knows what it's like to feel pain in your heart. He isn't the demon fox. He is a member of the hidden leaf. He's Uzumaki Naruto."
Zoro smiled. He didn't know what they meant by demon fox but he got what Iruka was going for. He looked down and Naruto saw crying like a baby.
"Tch. Well whatever." Mizuki said. Iruka tried to get up but blood started to flow from the wound on his back. Zoro face expression changed from a smile and returned to a look of worry for his teacher.
"Iruka. I said that I would take care of you later...But i changed my mind! Hurry up and die!" Mizuki yelled as he threw his giant shuriken at a helpless Iruka.
That's when Naruto and Zoro sprang into action. Naruto drove his knee into the white haired ninja's face while Zoro unsheathed the Wado and sliced the shuriken in half.
'Naruto! Zoro?' Iruka thought.
"If you touch Iruka, I'll kill you!" Naruto declared.
"You shouldn't have done that!" The downed foe declared as he rose to his feet. He looked around and saw Naruto standing with the scroll in hand while Zoro stood behind him with Wado in one hand and the sheath in the other.
"Ah Zoro! The guy who started this!" Iruka and Naruto looked back a Zoro.
"I don't even know who you are." Zoro declared.
"Hahahahaha! How ironic! The guy who destroyed my life doesn't even remember me." Mizuki said every word dripping with hatred. "Remember when you first showed up. When you defeated me in front of the Hokage that effectively was the end of my rise in power! You force me to take this thankless job as an instructor! I'll kill you and Iruka along with the demon fox!" Mizuki declared.
"Move Naruto." Zoro said as waves of killer intent flowed from him. Naruto moved to the side. Mizuki summoned another shuriken. Zoro resheathed the Wado and put it behind his back.
'What is he doing?' Mizuki thought. 'I won't make the same mistake! I won't charge!'
"Ittoryu Iai: Shishi Sonson!"Zoro yelled. Then in the blink of an eye he was behind him with the sword at his side. Blood flew from the shallow wound.
"Ha. Your cut was shallow!" Mizuki gloated.
"Yeah I know." Zoro said as he placed the sword on his side. "It's not my fight to finish."
Naruto dropped the scroll and brought his hands to the proper seal. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" He yelled. And hundreds of clones appeared.
"You said that you were going to kill us." One of the clones said. Mizuki looked around unable to comprehend what was going on. "Ok we'll start then." Another clone said.
After a furious beating Mizuki laid broken and beaten. Naruto was bragging to Zoro about his newly gained headband and rank as genin.
"So... How did your test go?" Naruto asked.
"I never took it." Zoro said. "So i guess I'll try again next year."
"Nonsense." Iruka said from behind them. "Mizuki and I were going to be your proctors for your exam anyway. So I don't see any reason to not make you a genin. And I don't think he's going to disagree with me." Iruka finished with a slight chuckle. "Sadly I don't have a headband for you."
"Don't worry. I'll just take his. He doesn't deserve it." Zoro said as he picked up Mizuki's discarded headband and wrapped it around his left arm. He had now joined the ranks of Konoha.
Sorry for the delay. I went thru three sets of this chapter before I finished this and still don't like the OOCness of certain characters in this chapter. To answer a couple of questions, yes Zoro will be returning to the One Piece-verse and yes a couple of other Straw Hats will make a cameo in this story,but it wont be long. I like to thank all the reviewers for the previous chapters and sorry for the lateness of this chapter. Thanks!
~B.O.X.~