24 Years Later, in the Village Hidden in the Leaves:
The crack of shinai filled the air of the Uzumaki clan's garden. Naruto was trying his best to keep up with his elder cousin and tutor, Hayate. Yet it was no avail as Hayate evaded Naruto's riposte and smacked his shinai across Naruto's back sending him into the koi pond.
Soaking wet, Naruto shook his fist at Hayate and said, "What's the big idea, you jerk!? You promised not to throw me in again"!
Hayate standing above him on a boulder said, "Blame old man Katsuo and the rest of the elders. They're pretty mad that they have to deal with the fallout of you painting a bunch of crap on the Hokage monument".
Naruto pouted as he said, "Well, it's not my fault that no one can take a good prank. Besides, it won't matter once I am Hokage"!
Hayate sighed, "First you have to graduate, shrimp. Honestly, you're a weird kid. How is it that you can't do basic ninjutsu let alone genjutsu, yet you are extremely advanced for your age at sealing techniques. Even by old man Katsuo's standards you ain't half bad. Hell, I still get scolded from time to time by him about my seals".
Naruto said, "The tests are a load of bull. I'm already better than everyone but Sasuke at taijutsu and no one else has studied kenjutsu or bojutsu. Let alone, fuinjutsu. So, they should just pass me".
Hayate sighed, "That's not how it works. Even someone like me who specializes in kenjutsu or Honoka who specializes in sealing techniques needs ninjutsu let alone the more advanced stuff like elemental ninjutsu. You can't always close the distance in battle".
Naruto crossed his arms and tried pouting harder.
Hayate sighed more and said, "Besides, us Uzumakis have hidden ninjutsu too, we aren't all just seals, swords, and kekkai genkai. Hell, you're not even guaranteed the Kekkai Genkai. Only auntie Rika has the healing bite and not everyone awakens the adamantine chains ".
Naruto said, "Fine, I still have a week before the exam, why don't you help me train"?
Hayate said, "Sorry Naruto, I have to leave on a mission tomorrow with my team. It honestly would be pretty boring if it wasn't my genin's first C Rank mission. Karin isn't making too much of a fuss, but Iada and Aisahi are all fired up", Hayate sighed, "Unfortunately it will be a two week long mission. It's basic protection for some rich merchants, super easy during peacetime. But they take forever to actually do. So I won't be back until after your graduation exam. Honoka is on that long range border patrol mission and won't be back for another month. So it's the elders or auntie Rika if she has the time".
Naruto said, "That blows".
Hayate said, "I know. If you graduate I will take you out for Ichiraku. How does that sound"?
Naruto perked up at that and jumped up as he shouted, "That sounds great"!
Hayate said, "I knew that would cheer you up. Let's go back inside and get cleaned up. We got that midnight memorial service at the Clan temple. You know how the elders get about it. You can't leave for a mission without it".
Naruto said, "Alright".
That Night:
Naruto sat in the temple with all of his kinsmen and women that were in the village. The smell of incense was heavy in the air. Naruto occasionally opened his eyes to see if anyone else had finished their silent prayers, but all he saw were his kinsmen dressed in the formal kimonos. The Uzumaki crest emblazoned proudly on their backs. Naruto looked up at the shrine containing the pictures of their kin who had passed. Most were paintings of the family that had perished in the attack on their homeland. A few were photographs of those who had died since they found refuge in the village. The only one he knew was Karin's dad and even then he had only vague memories as he died when Naruto and Karin were still really small.
He did always wonder about those who had died when their homeland was attacked. He knew that his grandfather and great-grandparents died in the attack, along with Honoka and Hayate's parents. Of course many others, but those he was always curious about. The elders cared about him for sure, but he never got that warm feeling he got from auntie Rika or the twins. He wondered if his grandparents would have been like all the grandparents he saw in the village with their grandkids.
Though the person he was most curious about was his mother. Uzumaki Kushina. They never spoke about his father, but everyone in the clan spoke fondly of his mother. The elders saw her as the pride of the Uzumaki clan. Auntie Rika, and the twins remembered her as basically their big sister. She died the night Naruto was born, the day the nine tails attacked, but everyone in the clan promised him that she loved him more than he could ever know.
Finally the silent prayer ended. Old man Katsuo turned around and said, "Those of us who will leave for a mission, come forward".
Hayate and Karin stood up and stepped forward before the old man.
Katsuo clasped his hands together and said, "We ask the ancestors to protect our kinsmen and women who are about to depart on their mission. May they evade the gaze of the Shinigami".
Katsuo continued, "Let them bring honor to our clan and to the Village Hidden in the Leaves".
Normally that would be the final thing said before the final blessing, but Katsuo said, "Naruto, come forward".
That surprised Naruto and he came forward kneeling alongside Karin and Hayate.
Katsuo said, "Ancestors help our kinsman as he prepares to take his final step before becoming a true shinobi".
Naruto couldn't help but smile, Katsuo truly did want the best for him despite old man Katsuo being a giant stick in the mud.
The Day of the Graduation Exam:
Damn it! He failed again!
How could this happen? How would he go home and tell everyone that he failed?
While everyone else was celebrating with their families as the class ended, he sat on the swing in front of the academy. He should have known something like this would have happened. When all the elders were summoned for an important mission from old man Hokage. Auntie Rika said it has been a very long time since they were all summoned for a mission. She even told him that the only reason why she wasn't going with them is because she was in charge of the Village's barrier Corps. So even she was too busy to train with as they had been put at Combat Readiness level 3. This also meant Honoka would likely be away longer since it meant long range border patrols would be ordered to patrol their sector again. Karin might be able to stay in the village when she and Hayate get back, but Hayate would be deployed to one of the border forts.
Naruto sensed someone approaching him, a moment later he realized it was Mitsuki sensei.
Mitsuki said, "I know you're feeling pretty down, Naruto. So, why don't we talk for a bit. I have some things you should know".
Later that night:
He finally got it. He was panting heavily, but he finally got it. He mastered the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!
He then felt something, someone was coming. It was Iruka Sensei.
Iruka landed before him and said, "It's all over".
Naruto chuckled and said, "Got me already. Not bad. You're quick, Sensei. I only had time to learn one technique".
Naruito got up and rubbed the back of his head, before continuing, "Okay, listen Iruka sensei. I'm going to show you this amazing jutsu, and you're going to let me graduate. Then everything will be okay! That's the way it works right? Anyone who learns a jutsu from this scroll passes"!
Iruka asked, "Where in the world did you get that idea"?
Naruto replied, "Mizuki sensei told me about. You know! He told me where to find the scroll, and this place…".
Iruka yelled, "LOOK OUT"!
And pushed him so far that he flew several meters.
A barrage of kunai hit Iruka sensei, sending him into the wall of the hut.
Mizuki sensei appeared in the trees overlooking the hut's clearing.
Mizuki said, "I see you found our little hideout, Iruka".
Iruka said, "So that is how it is. I should've known".
Mizuki said, "Naruto, give me the scroll now"!
Naruto, confused, said, "Wait a minute. What's going on here"?
Iruka yelled, "Naruto! Don't let Mizuki get the scroll! It contains forbidden jutsu that could put this village in grave danger! Mizuki used you to get the scroll, for his gain"!
Mizuki counter, "Naruto, Iruka's just trying to scare you because he doesn't want you to have the scroll.
Naruto said, "Huh? Uh…"
Iruka said, "Stop lying Mizuki!", he turned his head to Naruto and said, "Don't let him trick you, Naruto"!
Mizuki laughed and said, "Oh, I'll tell you who's really lying".
Iruka yelled, "No Mizuki! That's forbidden"!
Mizuki said, "They've been lying to you your whole life Naruto. Since the decree 12 years ago".
Naruto asked, "What decree".
Mizuki continued, "Everyone knows except you. Including your own clan. Iruka is trying to hide it from you even now. He would do anything to shut me up".
Naruto asked, "What is this decree? Why does everyone else know about it"?
Iruka yelled, "DON'T TELL HIM! IT'S FORBIDDEN"!
Mizuki said, "The decree is that no one can tell you that the nine tailed-fox is inside you".
Naruto gasped.
Mizuki continued, "The fox spirit that killed Iruka's parents and almost destroyed the village has taken over your body. You are the Nine-tailed Fox".
Iruka yelled, "STOP IT"!
Mizuki said, " They've all been sneaking around, hiding things from you your whole life. Didn't you think it was strange how they treated you? Like they hated you for just being alive"!
Naruto yelled, "NO"!
Charka poured out of him as felt so many conflicting things.
Naruto kept yelling, "NO, NO, NO, NO"!
Iruka said with his voice heavy with emotion, "Naruto"!
Mizuki continued with even more venom in his voice, "That's why you will never be accepted in this village. Even your beloved Sensei hates your guts"!
Mizuki spun the fuma shuriken and said, "Die, Naruto"!
Iruka yelled, "Naruto get down"!
Before Naruto knew it Iruka was bent over him. He had taken the fuma shuriken that was meant for him.
Naruto couldn't believe it.
Iruka groaned and coughed up blood. The blood fell on Naruto.
Naruto asked, "Why"?
Iruka said as tears streamed from his face, "Because we are the same. When I lost my parents no one seemed to care. They didn't have time for me. They just forgot I was there. My grades dropped, and I became the class clown to get attention. I was alone. It wasn't until I got transferred to a different class for pranking the instructor that I found someone who reached out to me. It was your cousins Hayate and Honoka. They were the only ones who saw the pit of loneliness that I was in. I know the loneliness and pain inside that you feel. Even with your clan. You need others to reach out and acknowledge you. Just as needed back then. I should have been there for you more. I am sorry. No one should have to suffer like you did Naruto".
Mizuki laughed and said, "Don't make me laugh! He was orphaned because the nine-tailed fox killed his parents. He'd say anything to get the scroll from you".
Naruto took off into the forrest, unsure of what to feel or do. Anger, betrayal, and sadness filled his heart.
Iruka called out to him, "Naruto! Naruto"!
Naruto was unsure how much time had passed but he was hiding behind a tree when Iruka sensei brought down Mizuki into a clearing.
Mizuki said, "Naruto, how did you know. That it was me and not Iruka".
Iruka sensei laughed and said, "Because I am Iruka".
Mizuki countered, "You're a fool. Why are you protecting that freak"?
Iruka replied, "I don't care what you say. You're not getting your hands on that scroll".
Mizuki cockily said, "As if you could stop, me. Don't you get it Naruto is just like me. He wants the scroll for his own power and his own vengeance. He will pour his anger and hate into the scroll and destroy the village. That's how beasts are".
Iruka said, " You're right".
Naruto gasped,and thought to himself, "So it's true. Iruka sensei never believed in me. He thinks I am some sort of beast".
Iruka continued, "That is how beasts are. But that is not who Naruto is. You don't know the first thing about him. Naruto is one of a kind, he's passionate and will never quit. He is a finer shinobi than you will ever be. Sure, he messes up sometimes and everyone gangs up on him. But his suffering only drives him to work harder and prove that he has what it takes. Even with all the hate he gets, he doesn't return it. He works harder to prove that he will make everyone acknowledge him. That's what separates him from a beast. Even you telling him about the Nine tails, won't stop him. You tried to turn him against me with your lies. But Naruto could sense every bit of venom and hate in those words and in your heart. He knows how much his clan and I care for him. If you bothered to get to know him or read his file, you would know that he is a sensor type, inheriting one of the Uzumkai clan's kekkai genkai. The clan whose techniques are what allowed the Fourth Hokage to defeat the Nine tails. So Naruto is nothing like the Nine Tailed Fox. He's Naruto Uzumaki of the Village Hidden in the Leaves".
Tears fell down Naruto's face as he heard those words. He didn't need to be a sensor type to know how Iruka sensei truly meant those words.
Mizuki said, "You really believe that drivel? I was going to save you for later, but you're finished"!
Naruto leapt from his hiding spot and tackled Mizuki, sending him flying. Diverting the fuma shuriken in the process.
Mizuki said, "Not bad for a little punk".
Naruto said, "If you ever lay a hand on my sensei, I'll kill you"!
Mizuki replied, "Such big words. I could destroy you in an instant".
Naruto formed the seal for shadow clones and said, "Take your best shot, fool. Whatever you dish out I'll pay back a thousand fold"!
Mizuki yelled, "Show me what you can do, nine-tailed fox"!
Naruto yelled, Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu"!
Forming hundreds of shadow clones.
Mizuki said, "No, what is this"? As he fell onto the ground.
Together the clones said, "If you're not coming, then we're coming after you".
After pounding the snot out of Mizuki, dawn broke.
Naruto said, "Sorry, I kind of got carried away. Are you okay, Iruka sensei"?
Iruka replied, "Naruto, come here for a minute. I have something to give you".
Naruto came closer and Iruka said, "Close your eyes Naruto".
It felt like forever, but it only had to be a minute or two.
Naruto asked, "How much longer sensei"?
Iruka replied, "Okay, you can open your eyes now".
He opened his eyes and saw Iruka sensei without his headband.
Iruka sensei said, "Congratulations, you graduate. And to celebrate, I have a surprise. We're going out for ramen tonight".
Naruto felt a smile come across his face and his heart beating like a drum. He leapt onto Iruka sensei and hugged him.