A/N: Hi, this is one of the first fics that I just had in my head for a while. Hopefully, you'll all like it. I going to try to stick to canon with just some new characters, more plot devices, and some twists I have in my head for now. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Chapter 2: The Duo Capture the Scroll

"Haha. You'll never catch me!" Naruto yelled to the bunch of ninjas chasing after him. You'd think of the second time you graffiti the Great Stone Faces the ninjas would have built up more stamina. "You wannabes are so lame! Can't even catch an 11-year-old!" Naruto laughed out. The ninjas were becoming more annoyed as they followed the #1 hyperactive, knucklehead ninja through the streets of Konoha. While they were busy chasing the #1 prankster in Konoha, they failed to realize a piece of a wall that was bulging out.

As Naruto was about to drop the cloak, he heard a 'wait' in his ear. Suddenly, Iruka came up right in front of him searching for the orange troublemaker. When he couldn't find him, he jumped off in the other direction.

"Nice catch, Ino." He said in his earpiece. A lighter blonde in a purple two-piece with bandages around her stomach and thighs came down a building to meet him.

"Well, I always did have to better eyes between the two of us," she said as she pointed to her pale blue eyes.

The duo was going to turn the other way when they ran into a tall man in Chunin attire and a brown ponytail.

"Wait, how di-"

"I was the one who taught you the Clone Jutsu, remember?" Iruka said in an irritated tone. "You two, get back to class! Now!" He yelled at the blonde preteens.

. . .

"I don't know what to do with you two," Iruka said to his two students. "Naruto, you failed the graduation exam twice already. Do you really think you can avoid missing class for some dumb pranks? Ino, you're one of the top kunoichis in this class. I would expect better of you."

Ino bowed her head solemnly while Naruto turned his face away in indignation.

"Well, if you want to play it that way, Naruto. Everyone, since these two had to play hooky, we're going to do the Transformation Jutsu one more time through."Iruka announced.

Everyone in class groaned in annoyance.

Way to go, Naruto.

I don't know why she even hangs out with that flunky

Are you kidding me?

And other quips were remarked in the air about the two rebellious blondes. Everyone in the class formed a single line and ran through the Jutsu once more.

"I still don't know why you hang around with that loser. He's always causing trouble," Sakura said to Ino as they were waiting in line to demonstrate their transformation skills,

"I guess I just have a thing for losers," Ino shrugged, "I mean, we were friends for a while, right?" Ino said with a smirk.

Sakura glared daggers at Ino. Before a bickering fight could start, Iruka called up Naruto. Naruto hunched over a chakra swirled around him. In a puff of smoke, he transformed into a busty, blonde, naked woman with pigtails. Iruka's head shot back as blood spewed out of his nose. Naruto transformed back to his normal self, laughing with his arm over his stomach.

"That's what I call my Sexy Jutsu."

"Cut the crap, Naruto!" Iruka shouted.

"And you got to admit," Ino added with a chuckle, "he has his moments."

. . .

At the Great Stone Faces, two blonde children could be seen cleaning the monument while being supervised.

"Iruka-sensei I don't even know why I have to clean up. It was all Naruto's idea and he's the one that painted the faces," Ino pouted.

"Yeah, well I'm pretty sure an accomplice is just as guilty as the perpetrator. Plus, how were there two Narutos in the first place when he can't even make one clone, hmm?" Iruka inquired.

Ino sighed and continued to clean up the mess. "I really have to stop letting you get me into these pranks."

"Aw, come on, Ino. You know we're a team," Naruto smiled. "Who else can I rely on to be my trusty lookout?"

"I don't know. Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Inomi," she enumerated, "aren't they all your friends?"

"Yeah, but they're all a bunch of scaredy cats when it comes to big pranks. This one I had to trust my best friend."

Ino rolled her eyes with a smile.

"You two quit the chit-chat and hurry up. At this rate you'll take all day," Iruka shouted down to them.

"Well, it's not like I have anything else to do," Naruto shouted back.

"Uh-huh. You'd said you'd have dinner with us tonight, remember?"

Naruto hit his head and groaned. "I completely forgot." He then started to speed up his cleaning.

. . .

It was around dinner time when the blonde duo reached the Yamanaka residence. They were both sore from all that scrubbing. Their arms were like jelly after scrubbing the stone wall for several hours. Their arms ached as they opened the door and took their shoes off. In the dining room, Inoichi sat at the head of the table while Hana setting up dinner. Inoichi looked up from the table to see them.

"Where have you two been? And why do you look so tired?" He asked.

The two looked at each other briefly.

"Uhhh...we were at the library studying for the graduation exam," Naruto replied with a smile.

Inoichi glared at him.

"Ok. We were cleaning up after a prank we did," Ino confessed.

Inoichi loosened his glare, but he still had a stern face. "I appreciate the honest but you know how I feel about these pranks. You two really should be studying for the exams."

"I'm already prepared," Ino replied, "tell that to Mr. Two-year-flunky," she nudged.

"Oh, shut up. At least I can transform into inanimate objects," Naruto barked back.

She hit him in his arm. "Shut up. I'm working on it. At least I don't fail every history exam; how do you confuse the Second Shinobi War with the Great Warring States Era?"

"That's an honest mistake, and I'm working on it, alright."

"Then you better make it quick. You only have two days left, and I don't know a single Hokage that didn't pass the Genin graduation exam," Inoichi interjected.

Naruto sulked in his chair.

"All right, that's enough bickering. Time to eat," Hana said as she put the main dish of fish and rice on the table.

"Have you been practicing those meditation techniques I showed you? That should help with your chakra control.

Naruto nodded. "And Ino's been helping me but I can only make one that barely stands up." He groaned.

"Yeah, he really sucks at it," Ino added. Naruto stuck his tongue out.

It's probably because he's using too much chakra for a D-ranked Jutsu Inoichi thought.

"And how's the Mind Transfer coming along, Ino?"

"It's improving, Daddy. I'm getting faster."

"That's good. Well, if you both keep training, I'm sure you'll be fine."

"And how's Sakura and Sasuke, Ino?" Ino's mom asked.

"Mom, you know me and Sakura still aren't on good terms, and Sasuke's still distant but at least he'll chat with us sometimes."

The atmosphere got colder as the topic of Sasuke rose. Tragic. His brother slaughtering his whole clan. It was hard for any ninja, let alone a 7-year-old, to deal with.

"You should keep up with him. You too, Naruto, even though I know you don't like them as much. He's experienced more trauma than I know full-fledged ninjas face. Just be there for him." Inoichi added.

"But don't get too close, Ino. You know how I feel about Uchihas." Ino's mother chided.

"Mom, me and Sasuke were friends for years. I don't know why you still don't like him."

"I like him," she retorted, "it's just...don't let your walls all the way down around them. I know what they can be like."

"Mom!" Ino exclaimed, embarrassed by her mom's attitude.

Naruto ate his food quietly.

"OK! Just one day you'll know what I mean. Anyway, enough with depressing topics."

The Yamanaka family and Naruto enjoyed their food with light chatter.

. . . .

Today was the day. He's been practicing for months. He was psyched and fully prepared. Naruto hyped himself as he waited for the person to come out of the exam room. He was nervous, but that wasn't going to stop him, he told himself. There was no way he was gonna fail this time.

"Next!" Someone shouted after some guy in his class came out with a new Hidden Leaf headband.

Naruto slapped his face a couple of times before entering the exam room. He stood in front of the table where Iruka-sensei and Mizuki-sensei sat with fresh Hidden Leaf Headbands right in front of them. He was going to get it this time. He had too.

"Ok, Naruto, let's see your Clone Jutsu," Iruka stated.

Naruto nodded his head and held the necessary hand seal. He concentrated as blue chakra swirled around him ferociously.

"Clone Jutsu!" He screamed out.

When he opened his eye he saw an image of himself just barely standing up, looking a little muted, but to his right was a copy flat on the floor like a dead fish, lacking all color.

Mizuki chuckled. "I mean...it's better than last time."

"But he only pulled off two when everyone else did three," Iruka chimed in. "Can't you see, Mizuki, one of them looks like it's been drinking for three hours straight, and the other is just pathetic."

Naruto was piqued with Iruka's harsh critiques.

"I'm sorry, Naruto. I can see you've improved but you still fail."

"Come on, Iruka. Let the kid have it," Mizuki said, trying to persuade Iruka.

"Mizuki, these clones would not fool anyone in the ninja world; that's kind of the whole point of the Jutsu. I'm sorry but he is not passing this year."

Naruto held his head low and walked out of the room sulkily. As he opened the door, he saw Ino in front of him. She was excited to see his new headband, but her disposition took a turn when she saw Naruto with his head held low.

"Oh, Naruto," she reached out to hug him but he shrugged her off.

"Not now, Ino. I just want to be alone right now."

Ino just watched as she saw her best friend shuffle out the Academy.

. . . .

Naruto sat gloomily by himself on top of his apartment building. How can he have still failed? He even produced a clone standing up this time! Stupid Iruka. Naruto swung his legs over the ledge wondering what was his next step after this. Just as the sun was setting, Mizuki appeared next to Naruto. He sat down on the edge next to Naruto.

"Naruto, I know you're bummed out but Iruka does have a point, but he also means well with his grading. I think he pushes you because he sees a little of himself in you."

"Well, I think he pushes a little too hard. I had so much more help compared to last year and it still wasn't enough. I trained so much, Mizuki-sensei."

Naruto started to tear-up about his wasted effort. Mizuki smiled.

"Well, Naruto, there is this one way to graduate without taking the exam." Naruto perked up. "A secret test straight to being a Genin. All you have to do is this..."

. . . .

Iruka was laying in his bed alone in his apartment. Events during the day were ruminating in his mind, particularly the exam of one orange student. Maybe he should have just passed him. He did do a great deal better than last time. If he just had more time maybe he could perfect the Jutsu. Before he could continue thinking about hindsight, there was a loud banging against his door. Iruka got up to find Mizuki in full ninja gear.

"Iruka, get ready, quick! Naruto and Ino stole the Scroll of Sealing."