Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Naruto or any characters in this story; it belongs to masashi kishimoto.

Chapter 4: the academy

January 11th

'Today is the day my journey to become the greatest Hokage ever begins, dattebayo!' Though Naruto as he woke up to the sound of an alarm ringing. The academy lasted six years, and you could start to attend when you turned six. The first three years were pretty much regular schooling with an introduction to chakra theory and taijutsu, Shinobi world history, and weapon throwing. In the last three years, you had a more advanced taijutsu class that lets you spar with your classmates, advanced chakra theory, introduction to ninjutsu, introduction to genjutsu, tactics, and overall shinobi skills. You can even graduate early in your fourth year if you pass all the exams. However, you still need to complete the two remaining years unless the Hokage approves you to become a genin.

He quickly took a shower and dressed. He put on his black knee-high shorts, black ninja sandals, and his favorite orange shirt with Konoha's symbol in black and green goggles before heating some instant ramen.

Naruto had been waiting for a few months to be able to enroll in the ninja academy, and finally, With the new year also came the first day of the academy. He had begun physical training by doing push-ups, sit-ups, crunches, and running laps around the village. He would often find a very strange man dressed in all green with huge eyebrows running with his hands while screaming something about the power of youth. Still, every time approached Naruto, something strange would happen.

Flashback

Naruto was finishing his daily lap around the village when the strange man dressed in all green approached him while doing a handstand with three fingers in each hand.

"How youthful to see you again, kid! Your flames of youth burn with the heat of 100 hundred suns, but you will not outdo the green and sexy beast of Konoha. I will do 50 laps, no, 75 laps around the village with my hands while carrying a boulder between my legs. Then I will climb the Hokage monument with one hand tied behind my back and both legs tied together." Said the man with huge eyebrows while Naruto's sweat just dropped.

"I need to train to become the greatest Hokage ever, dattebayo." Responded Naruto.

"An extremely youthful endeavor, but you are missing something that will make you train 20 times harder while looking like a sexy beast. Said the man while winking and giving him a thumbs up, all while still standing on his left hand.

"Really? Can you help me get what I'm missing." asked an excited Naruto.

"Of course." Said Gai while doing a backflip and landing on his feet. "You just need to wear this youthful uniform." He pulled out a green piece like the one he was wearing and was about to give it to Naruto when a huge boulder hit him. A mere second after that, an ANBU with a dog mask appeared.

"Here is the boulder you need for your training." Said the ANBU, who then turned to Naruto and spoke. "I'm sorry for the interruption. Please continue your training."

"Inu! Yeah, I'll be the greatest Hokage ever, so I can't stop dattebayo." And with that, Naruto continued his training.

'I refuse to let Naruto become a Gai Jr.' When Naruto was out of sight Kakashi turned to Gai. "Gai, how often do I tell you to stop corrupting little kids?"

"How unyouthfull of you, my eternal rival. I only wanted to help him achieve his youthful dream."

"Mmm, sorry, did you say something?"

"Aghhh, curse you and your hip attitude Kakashi."

End of flashback

'Well, I better be on my way. I don't want to be late for my first day. Maybe I can even make a few friends.' Unbeknown to our little Shinobi in training, most parents told their kids to be careful with Naruto and that it's better to ignore him.

Naruto entered the ninja academy as bright as ever, grinning at everyone despite the pang of loneliness when he watched some parents drop off their kids. Naruto reached the classroom and opened the door, only to meet the eyes of his new teacher. The teacher's smile quickly vanished, and he turned to grab a paper from his desk. He was completely ignoring Naruto's salute.

Naruto observed the man; he had brown hair pulled into a bun and a scar across his nose. He then eyed his new classmates and noticed a few glared at him too. 'I think I'll sit at the back of the classroom; that way, no one can glare at me at least.' When Naruto was going to his chosen seat, a random kid stuck out his foot and tripped the little blonde. Naruto fell face first, almost hitting his face, but he managed to stretch his arms at the last second. Even though he didn't hit his face, the classroom was filled with laughter. Only three students didn't laugh. Those were a boy who seemed asleep, a kid with sunglasses, and a little girl with short midnight-blue hair.

"Watch where you are walking." Said the kid that tripped Naruto as he snickered. Naruto was about to respond, but he heard the voice of his new teacher.

"Everyone be silent, and you go and take sit." Said the teacher sternly.

'That baka, I will prank him in a way he will never forget.' He thought as he walked to the end of the classroom and sat next to a chubby kid who was eating some chips and someone who appeared to be sleeping.

He took the free seat next to the chubby kid and introduced himself. "Hello! My name is Uzumaki Naruto, the future greatest Hokage ever, dattebayo! What's your name?"

"I'm Akimichi Chōji; nice to meet you, Naruto." The boy replied.

Naruto was about to ask Chōji for a chip when the sleeping boy murmured something unintelligible. "What did you say?" Naruto asked a little too loudly for the boy's taste.

The boy with pineapple-shaped hair slowly lifted his head as if it was the most strenuous task in the world before speaking. "Troublesome blonde. I'm Nara Shikamaru." And he dropped his head to sleep again.

"Don't take offense, Naruto, Shikamaru is just really lazy. Want a chip?" explained Chōji. They talked for a while as more students came and filled the empty seats.

"All right, class, settle down. My name is Iruka Umino, and I'll be your Sensei from here until you graduate from the academy. I want each of you to say your name and a thing you like. If there are any volunteers, please raise your hand." Spoke Iruka. Naruto instantly raised his hand to introduce himself, but the teacher did not see him. The teacher pointed to another kid, and one by one, they began to introduce themselves.

"I'm Inuzuka Kiba, and I like dogs!" said a boy with spiky brown hair and red marks on his face.

"My name is Yamanaka Ino, and I love flowers."

"Uchiha Sasuke and I like to train."

"Troublesome. I'm Nara Shikamaru, and I like to sleep." A few giggles could be heard throughout the class.

All the students introduced themselves one by one until only two were left. Naruto saw a small girl with midnight blue hair and lavender-colored eyes stand up timidly. 'She seems familiar for some reason.'

"M-my name is H-Hyūga Hinata, a-and I like c-cinnamon r-rolls." Stuttered the girl causing a few kids to laugh, and she immediately went bright red.

Naruto frowned and immediately got up to divert attention from the girl. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and I like ramen!" screamed Naruto.

"What a stupid name! Did you name yourself after your favorite food?" asked a kid, and the laughter increased.

Naruto's eyes immediately started twitching. "My name means maelstrom baka!"

"Alright! Settle down." Instructed Iruka, although even he found the situation funny. As Naruto sat down, he saw that Hinata was looking at him, and he gave her a smile which she timidly responded.

Iruka then started introducing the academy basics. Throughout the day and the different subjects, Naruto had multiple questions. Still, whenever he raised his hand to ask a question, Iruka ignored him and turned the other way while all the other kids answered their questions.

After hours of boring lectures from Iruka came the lunch break. Naruto didn't know anyone, and most kids seemed to know each because they used to play together in the park before joining the academy. He had tried to join them occasionally, but every time he came close, the kids would start running from him like he was an evil monster, or the parents would quickly separate them.

He tried his luck by talking to other kids in the academy during the lunch break, but it didn't go well. At the end of the day, Naruto was heading to Ichiraku's to talk with Teuchi and Ayame with a smile that didn't quite reach its eyes.

Naruto sighed as he swayed back and forth in a swing surrounded by snow. The year would be coming to an end soon. If Naruto was being honest, it sucked. He had given up on being a good student and training halfway through the year. He focused on continuing to grow his reputation as a prankster. He understood a decent amount of what Iruka taught when he was paying attention, but he was rudely ignored whenever he had any questions. Leading him to lag and lose interest in the class and often miss class to pursue more entertaining endeavors.

'I can't wait to graduate from the stupid place. Who needs the academy anyways? I'm going to be an awesome ninja and Hokage!'.

He was lost in a daydream about being Hokage when he heard someone scream.

"You are a monster!" Naruto perked up at the insult, and he turned on instinct. For a brief second, he half expected to see the same man from the cemetery, but instead, he saw three kids surrounding a little girl he recognized as one of his academy classmates. It took him a second to realize that they were calling the girl a monster and not him. He didn't know why it made him feel angry.

They weren't friends. Not really. He remembered meeting her before the academy, but apparently, she didn't. The few times he tried talking to her, she was always really quiet. Still, he vividly remembered the time he was called a monster. The insult had stuck with him for months after that day.

"Your eyes are creepy!' said one and was followed by laughter.

"Yep, you are just a monster, aren't you?" This caused the girl to start crying.

"Hey, stop that!" screamed Naruto as he got closer.

"Huh? Who are you?"

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto! Remember the name because I'll be Hokage one day, dattebayo!"

"Hokage? You are an idiot." Said the tallest kid with a sneer on his face.

"I'll show you." Naruto retorted before trying to perform the bunshin. Two copies of sickly-looking Naruto's appeared next to him before they fell to the ground.

Poor Naruto was so busy looking at the clones on the ground that he never saw the punch aimed straight at his nose. One second, he was looking at his clones, and the other his world went black.

Naruto blinked a couple of times as he regained consciousness. He instantly remembered that he was about to fight some kids. "I'm not done yet! This time it's going to work!" he then realized that the kids where no were to be seen, and only the girl was still there. His shoulder sagged in disappointment.

"A-Are you okay?" asked Hinata.

"They caught me off guard, you know; normally, I would have beaten them." answered Naruto dejectedly before cheering up a bit. "You are Hinata, right?"

Hinata nodded. "They ruined your scarf."

Naruto turned to see that she was holding his ripped red scarf. He sighed and just waved her off.

"I'm sorry." She said sadly as a tear started to slip from her eye.

"Hey, don't worry about it..." He then wiped the tear that was slipping from her eye. "And don't cry about either. Crying doesn't change anything; it never changes anything." He offered her his brightest grin to cheer her up before standing up and running off.

"Um, excuse me?"

Naruto turned to her. "Hmm?"

"T-Thank you very much." Hinata said with a timid smile as she unconsciously clutched the ruined scarf. Naruto just gave another grin before running off.

The first four and a half years of the academy came and went without much happening aside. Naruto was now ten years old, about to be eleven, and sitting in the academy classroom next to Sakura, whom he had a crush on and Sasuke. Iruka, as always, was giving his usual boring lecture. At least, that was what Naruto thought. He had stopped paying attention a long time ago. Suddenly he heard Iruka say something that caught his attention.

"Imagine if the world were to end tomorrow; who would you like to spend your last day with?"

"Like that would ever happen." Muttered Naruto under his breath.

"How would that even happen?!" screamed Kiba.

"Just suppose the moon began to fall towards the earth." Offered Iruka after scratching his head for a second.

"If it's the end of the world, I would like meat to fall instead of the moon." Joked Chōji, causing every to laugh.

"Just write down who you want to spend your last day on earth with." Said Iruka as the class quieted down and got to work.

Iruka looked over at his students to ensure everyone was working when his eyes landed on Naruto. Without knowing or intending to, his eyes became cold and distant. He remembered that day as if it was yesterday. Seeing his mother's lifeless body as his father shouted at him to run away. 'How I wish I could spend one more day with them.'

His eyes then moved all over his students before landing on Naruto again. He saw that Naruto was glaring at his paper intently. As he felt his thoughts darken again, he shook his head before his thoughts got too depressing and started walking around the classroom.

He didn't realize when, but he started reviewing what his students were writing. He wasn't surprised when he saw the answers his students were writing.

He had been walking for a few minutes until he saw a completely blank sheet. He shifted his eyes slightly and saw spiky blonde hair. It would be a lied if he said he was somewhat curious about what the blonde would write. He caught a slight movement in the corner of his eyes and saw that he had begun writing the words mom and dad before he furiously erased his answer.

The action took aback Iruka. Of course, he knew that Naruto was an orphan like him, but he had never really dwelled on that fact. No, every time he saw the blonde, he couldn't help but remember the demon that resided in him. He knew that Naruto wasn't the Kyubi. Only a few ignorant Shinobi and some civilians thought that, but almost no one could look past what he had been burdened with. Most Shinobi just remembered all the pain of what they lost that night. A few of them were weary and mistrusting of the blonde, or more specifically, they were fearful that the seal would fail at any time. Jinchuriki weren't often the most stable people around; very few could have been categorized as mentally healthy. Sealing a Biju isn't an easy task at all. Several factors come into play for the making of Jinchuriki, such as the seal used, the age, vitality, mental fortitude, and how much access you want to give to the Jinchuriki to their Biju's chakra. Most villages in the elemental nations were rather liberal with how much access they gave to their Jinchuriki since a Jinchuriki without access to their Biju's chakra doesn't serve much purpose. The problem is that the more access you gave a jinchuriki to the Biju's chakra, the more access you gave the Biju to their container and the more stress you put on their body. Such practices gave Jinchuriki a bad reputation, rightfully earned for the most part. Rumors and tales of Jinchuriki's going on a rampage while being possessed by their Biju weren't hard to find.

Iruka continued his train of thought as he walked back towards his desk. After a few minutes, he couldn't help that his gaze found Naruto again, but something was different. He wasn't loud or obnoxious; rather, he was quiet and unmoving. His eyes weren't shining with the mischief you usually saw. Instead, his eyes looked empty and sad. This sight quite put off Iruka, but abruptly Naruto started to move. He was curious about what the blonde was doing, and suddenly he saw that he had made a paper airplane and thrown it out of the window.

Iruka blinked a couple of times before remembering he was the teacher and, thus, had to scold him. "Naruto! Don't throw out your paper." He saw that the blonde was grinning, but his eyes remained dull and lifeless, and then the irony hit him like a hammer. He had heard the Hokage tell him that Naruto wasn't that different from how he used to be back in the academy. He had barely suppressed the scoff that attempted to escape his lips that time but now he saw it as clear as day, which troubled him. It troubled him a lot, but for the time being, he tried to bury those thoughts and concentrate on being a teacher.

Naruto was uncharacteristically subdued for the rest of the period, only moving when he heard the bell that signified that lunchbreak had begun. With sagged shoulders and his head down Naruto made his way to an old and bitten swing under a tree and quietly swung back and forth as he watched his classmates play and talk under the sun. he was trying his hardest to put a smile on his face and try to make some friends, but he didn't have it in him today to act cheerful. Still, he didn't want people to think he was sad, so he tried to put his most neutral expression possible.

"I can't believe them! They just had to embarrass me in front of everyone again!" he heard a voice that belonged to Sakura. Looking up, he saw that it was Sakura talking to another classmate.

"I think they are kind of funny, you know." admitted the girl Sakura was talking with after a few giggles. "At least your parents joke around; mine are always serious."

"They aren't funny!" Sakura insisted

"What's not funny billboard brow?" said an approaching Ino. "Other than your attempts on Sasuke-kun."

"Shut up Ino-pig! You'll see that Sasuke-kun will be mine."

"The only reason Sasuke-kun would ever talk to you is if he wants to put an ad on your forehead for everyone to see."

The two former friends continued to bicker while Naruto was stuck in one of the first sentences he heard. 'At least your parents joke around; mine are always serious.' Hearing kids talking about their parents was always a strong gut punch for Naruto. It was a slap in the face that reminded him how alone he was, and he had already gotten a good reminder earlier today with Iruka's activity. As his thoughts became more depressing, he looked toward the ground filled with dying leaves while his eyes became dull and lifeless.

The phrase continued to repeat in his mind until his thoughts started to go to places he tried to avoid. 'What were my parents like?' Were they serious, or did they like to joke around?' Naruto's thoughts continued to spiral into a depressive state the longer he thought about the topic.

With Iruka

'I need sake.' Unfortunately, he couldn't follow through with his thoughts because he was currently working, surrounded by kids, and it was barely 10 AM. So instead, he settled for a cup of coffee at the teacher's lounge. All the way to the teachers' lounge and back, the blonde never left his mind. When he returned to the classroom to prepare for the next class and saw out of the corner of his eyes that someone was sitting next to the window, he was snapped out of his thoughts. He fully turned to see who was there and saw that it was Hinata. He noticed that she was looking out of the window with a sad expression while holding a hand to her chest. He approached the window to see what was bothering the little girl. He followed her line of sight, and his eyes landed on Naruto for what felt like the millionth time in the day. He saw the boy sitting alone on a swing below a tree as all the other kids played and talked under the sunlight. At face value, it looked like a blonde kid with a blank expression playing on the swing, but Hinata and Iruka saw the loneliness and pain hidden behind his eyes.

The words the Sandaime had said the last time he went to his office to complain about the blonde's behavior rang in his head.

'Naruto never had a father or a mother to care for him. He is singled out and doesn't know why most people won't even look at him. How would you feel if people turned their backs on you everywhere you went? That's why he gets in trouble so that people will notice him. It may be hard to see, but he is always thinking about the family he doesn't have. He is hurting inside.'

The bell rang again, and both Hinata and Iruka jumped slightly. They both accidentally locked eyes causing Hinata to go crimson red.

"I-I-I." Hinata tried to say something but couldn't manage anything intelligible. Iruka decided to be merciful to the young Hyūga by giving her a small smile and going about his normal routine.

Later that day, when all the students were long gone, Iruka kept thinking about his blonde student. He sat in the lounge for a couple of hours with a contemplative look, analyzing Naruto's behavior. The Hokage had been spot on. It wasn't long before he started analyzing his behavior towards the blonde through his three years of teaching him. He faintly recalled Naruto's first day at the academy since it was the first time he found himself so close to the Jinchuriki and his first day of teaching. He remembered that Naruto had been eager. Sure, he would get distracted occasionally, but he would ask questions.

'He never asks questions anymore.' Mentally pointed out Iruka.

'Maybe because you never bother to answer them.' a second voice seemed to answer in his mind.

That's when it hit him. 'I'm a shit teacher.' Iruka, who prided himself in his teaching abilities, started feeling incredibly guilty. Sure, the blonde was a bundle of energy that would get distracted easily, but he wasn't the only kid like that. There were other students in his class just like that, and he had made an effort to make them pay attention. He even got Kiba to pay attention most of the time. Aside from Naruto, only Shikamaru didn't pay the slightest bit of attention. He analyzed Shikamaru for a while but quickly realized that the Nara was just extremely lazy.

'I don't even know if he is a bad student because I never bothered to be a teacher to him.' Was the conclusion he reached about the blonde Uzumaki. Iruka sighed. He decided that he had done enough self-reflection for the day and started to go through the papers he had collected from today's early activity. Some people may call it snooping; he calls it 'getting to know your students better.'

He kept shuffling through the papers and drinking coffee, trying to keep his thoughts of Naruto. The reality that he had been a shit teacher was too depressing for him to think about it longer than he needed to. He kept looking at the names his students had written before his eyes landed on one with Naruto's name. He choked on his coffee and coughed for a whole minute before he regained his composure. His eyes went to the corner of the paper and saw that it was Hinata's paper. He had to rub his eyes to make sure his weren't playing tricks on him and went as far as trying to dispel a nonexistent genjutsu. After that, he chuckled. They would certainly make an interesting pair. Iruka decided that he had done enough research on his students and left the academy. He went home determined to be the teacher that Naruto needed.

Author's Notes:

And another chapter is done. This one was slightly shorter than what I wanted, but I didn't want to extend it without a purpose. In the first chapters, there will be a difference in size, but overall I'm aiming to make each chapter around 6k words.

Thanks to Tumelo Uzumaki-Midoriya Mariri and Tyrese for the comments. I appreciate your comments and opinions.