(Foundation Training Hall #27 – 7 Years ago)

Shino was falling, eyes goggled and closed. He had to be patient, one second, then another. He withdrew several kunai from a holster on his leg. Patient…patient...Now!

He threw the first projectile at target 1, a straw mannequin, before one-by-one flinging the others at several differing earmarks, some moving, others stationary. As he landed, several senbon were flung at him both from behind and in front of his person. Wasting no time, Shino quickly unsheathed the tanto blade from behind his hip and deflected the needles.

Even when the mechanism that fired the needles stopped, Shino refused to immediately sheath the blade. After all, this was level 3, he couldn't trust that the machinery in the walls hadn't been set to fire at irregular intervals. In fact, having done this enough times, he could almost always count on it.

When enough seconds had passed, Shino finally relaxed enough to inspect his performance, never actually choosing to sheath his short sword. How many times had he done this today, this week?

43 tries today, 492 tries since…How long have I been here? "Ah, right." Five days.

How much longer until he mastered this room? Level 5, he needed to get to Level 5.

He had missed three of his 15 targets and needed to hit them all no less than fifty times in a row in front of a senior to pass.

*Clap**Clap**Clap*

Shino immediately swung around to point his sword toward the noise, only to find himself staring at the face of an unfamiliar young man.

"Hey hey, calm down now. Danzo sent me."

Shino lowered his blade. Like all of the Foundation, each Training Hall was well-guarded. There was no reason to believe this stranger was telling him anything other than the truth.

"Is Lord Danzo…unhappy with me?" Shino asked, somewhat worried.

The young man gave him a beaming smile. "No, not at all. It usually takes new recruits a full year to make it past Level 2. You making it to Level 3 in only two months really sets you apart."

"So then why-"

"Lord Danzo has asked me to help cultivate your talent, though looking at how hard you push yourself, I'd say there's a fair bit of hard work to back up your technique."

Shino didn't know what to say to that. He wasn't particularly good with compliments, especially from strangers. The fellow was tall, of a taught muscular build, had black hair that he kept short, and very sharp eyes. Eyes that looked like they were always tired. Eyes that, upon closer inspection, were a deep red, with several tomoe surrounding the pupils.

"An Uchiha," Shino mumbled.

"Heh, guilty," the teen laughed, "In any case, let's introduce ourselves. What's your name?" He finished extending out his arm in greeting.

Shino merely looked at the outstretched hand, then turned away. "Lord Danzo wouldn't have sent you to me without briefing you. You already know who I am. And you don't have to bother helping me. I only train with…just go."

"Hey hey, think about me. What am I supposed to tell Danzo if you don't cooperate?"

Shino ignored the man, opting instead to retrieve his Kunai and restart the exercise. "Tell him whatever you want. I only train with my bro."

Shino made it all ten feet away from the Uchiha before a booming laughter erupted from behind him. The man, he was laughing…at him? Shino could only stare, bewildered.

"I-I'm sorry," The stranger said, trying to restrain himself. "You just remind me so much of my best friend's little brother. Always bugging him to play or train. Real attached to his hip, that one. 'I only train with my bro,'" he said mocking Shino's last words.

Shino was glad Danzo hadn't forced him to wear the typical ROOT uniform other trainees used. Being able to continue to wear his overcoat and hoodie obstructed others from being able to see most of his face. A face that was now red with embarrassment. He didn't need to take this teasing. With a harumph, Shino turned away flustered, ready to focus his energy on something more productive. Like getting to Level 4.

"Hey hey, now. Don't be like that. I'm sorry."

Shino ignored him.

"Aw well. And to think I know a jutsu that could get you out of here in a week or two, maybe less."

That stopped Shino. A jutsu for training? That could cut his training time in half.

"You could train all day and all night without losing sleep. Learn twice as fast. Ah, but you're not interested in that, huh? Welp, I'll be seein-"

The Uchiha stopped, somewhat surprised at the speed at which the young Aburame scion had cut the distance between them, and at the speed he had grabbed onto his shirt.

"No," Shino began. "M-my name…is Shino. Please teach me."

Unexpectedly, Shino felt the man's hand gently pat his head and looked up to see a warm smile.

"Sorry for teasing you, little man. My name's Shisui. Shisui Uchiha. And what I'm about to teach you might just get you to your brother sooner, rather than later. Have you ever heard of the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu?

(Konoha Ninja Academy – Present - Classroom)

"The final test will be on…the Clone Jutsu," Iruka said.

Oh no, Shino thought. One look at Naruto's face told him he and his friend were on a similar wavelength. The Clone Jutsu was Naruto's worst academy-standard technique.

Unlike shadow clones, this jutsu created simpler unphysical copies that could barely move or find use outside of confusing foes. The only thing they had over their far superior shadow counterparts was that they used a minimal amount of chakra. And that was the problem. Naruto didn't have the skill to finesse his massive chakra reserves into a jutsu so simple. It was like expecting a child to fill a paper cup by way of a waterfall. So much chakra was used in the clone with such little control that they always manifested as almost corpse-like copies.

Failing the exam three times was grounds for dismissal. Lord Third wouldn't do that to Naruto, would he? Could his father put in a good word for his friend? Certainly, the Sandaime wouldn't let such a promising youth join the ranks of the civilians when just yesterday he had painted the faces of the Hokage and dodged several Chunin with little to no effort.

The more Shino thought about it, the less he liked the answers. Standing from his regular seat at the top row of the class, Shino made his way to his blonde friend.

"Gahh! Shino! What am I gonna do?"

*Chop!*

"Yow! What the heck was that for, huh?"

"Calm down, Naruto. I have a plan."

"Y-You do?" Naruto said, relieved.

Shino held a finger to his lips, signaling silence. "Listen. You head home. I'll use a Transformation to pretend I'm you. That way, you'll be a shoo-in to pass."

Naruto's face lit up, before contorting to something between focus and deep thought. For half a minute he said nothing, worrying Shino.

"No," Naruto began resolute. "There are no shortcuts to becoming Hokage."

"What is this crap? Naruto, focus on being better after I get you a headban-"

"No! I can't rely on you for everything, Shino. If I can't even do this on my own, then…then I really won't deserve to be here."

"Naruto, you-"

"Shino Aburame," an instructor at the door called out. "You're being called for testing. Report to Room 206."

Shino gave Naruto one last look, brows furled. Then made his way to his exam. Before he reached the door Naruto called out to him.

"Don't you worry Shino! I'm gonna pass with flying colors, then we'll celebrate at Ichiraku's. Believe it!"

Shino wanted to believe it. He really really did.

(20 minutes later)

Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God! Get on with it! Shino thought, his thoughts betraying his stoic façade.

"-therefore, going forward Mr. Aburame, despite your less than stellar grades, and penchant for…skipping classes with a certain few others. I must say that, on the whole, the Academy will be a much quieter place without you here. I'm not sad though, for as you walk out this door, I release not a student, but a peer. Take pride in what you have accomplished young man. You do yourself, your clan, and most of all…me, proud.

Sensei Takashi sniffled as he ceremonially handed the new Genin his headband. It was all Shino could do to not take the damn thing and run. If he was quick, maybe, just maybe, he could still convince Naruto to switch with him. Uzumaki; he had to be one of the last names called.

Shino walked calmly out the door to the quiet clapping of his teachers. When the door shut, he bolted.

C'mon, C'mon, C'mon!

Asking several of his fellow graduates, Shino learned that the U's were being tested on the second floor of the Western Hall, with Sensei's Iruka and Mizuki. Was that good? Bad? Shino wasn't sure. Iruka overall was harsh but fair. Mizuki was always nice, but something about the man felt slimy to Shino. It was one of his feelings that never quite left the back of his mind. Naruto would need the approval of both to pass.

Please, Iruka. Of all the time to not have a stick up your ass. Please, let it be today.

Shino knew he had the right hall when he saw him in the hallway. Sasuke Uchiha.

"Yo, Sasuke. Seen Naruto around?"

Sasuke merely looked at him with his infamous resting-bitch-stare before pointing past the wall he leaned on with his thumb. Damn it. He was too late.

Shino waited as Sasuke wandered off, a gaggle of girls slowly flocking to him as his figure slowly disappeared down the hall. This was one of their better encounters. There was a one-sided rivalry Sasuke had with him when it came to certain curricula, namely tai, ken, and every other jutsus in between. You know, on days Shino actually felt like trying.

Shino had to give it to the young prodigy. Had he not been able to have one or two shadow clones training nightly either at the temple or in the training yard, there might have come a day when Sasuke might have long surpassed him. The guy was no slouch when it came to his training. Jealous peers said he was callous, or just playing the dark broody playboy. Peers like Naruto. But underneath the stony exterior was a razor-sharp focus dedicated to surpassing…everything. Or someone.

You just remind me so much of my best friend's little brother. Always bugging him to play or train. Shisui's long-gone voice hit him like a hammer.

Why was he thinking of him now? For crying out loud he had other things to worry about.

Leaning next to the door, Shino waited and hoped.

"Clone Jutsu!" Naruto's voice called out.

There was a pregnant pause.

C'mon, C'mon. Just let him pass.

…..

…..

"You fail!" Iruka's voice yelled!

Damn it! Shino thought, slumping to his knees.

"Iruka sensei," Mizuki said, voice calm and reasoned, "he's off, but his moves weren't bad, and he did hang in there and replicate. This is his third try so you know he really wants to become a ninja. We could cut him a break and pass him."

You're a godsend Mizuki, you saint, Shino said to himself, I take it all back. I could kiss you!

"Mizuki Sensei," Iruka began, "the other students created at least three effective replications, but Naruto could only create one. And look at it. It's pitiful…I can't pass him."

You heartless sodomy-loving bastard! Take that stick out of your bum and look at the big picture. Who even uses this crappy jutsu?! I could kill you! Shino didn't mean it, but God did he wish he had.

The room door slid open and an orange figure ran out, head down. Naruto's eyes and his made contact briefly, the action seeming to make him sprint all the faster. There had been shame in his eyes. Shame, and tears.

Shino wanted to rush into the exam room and give Iruka a piece of his mind. Except, there was no good reason for it. Iruka had been fair in his assessment. Shino wanting his friend to pass was his own personal bias. And yet, he couldn't quite shake the feeling that this wasn't supposed to be how things happened.

Shino really believed it. One day, one day his friend would be Hokage. And the first step toward that goal lay with becoming a Genin. But how?

In frustration, and because he was petty, Shino kicked the wall. Hard.

"Who was that? Naruto is that you?!" Iruka scolded as he opened the door, then searched around in befuddlement. The hall was empty.

No one was there, like bugs in the wind.

(Konoha Ninja Academy – Present - Outside training Field)

Shino watched from atop the academy roof as students received praise from their parents in the training yard. Lots of kids would be getting their favorite meals cooked tonight, and if things had gone their way, he and Naruto would be slurping on Pork Ramen right now, extra fishcakes.

Instead. He was up here, looking at Naruto down there. Far away from the positive energy he hadn't earned nor been invited to. Should he comfort his friend? Or give him space?

It just wasn't fair. The Clone Jutsu just wasn't compatible with Naruto. Except that wasn't true. The truth was, Naruto was a slacker and more than a bit of a goofball. He excelled at what interested him and ignored the things that didn't. Fine-tuning his chakra control was among the things he was interested in the least of all.

And himself? Shino was also culpable for Naruto's failure, wasn't he? As a friend he had thought it was enough to be there for the village pariah, have his back when he was down or against the wall. But had he helped his friend overcome his weaknesses? No. Try to raise his orange fellow to be the shinobi he knew deep down whiskers could be. No.

In fact, how often had it been he, bored with lessons, who had instigated Naruto to skip class with him? He, who some teachers called the leader of the Academy's legendary Five Fools. The thought made Shino feel guilty.

If only there was a way to show the teachers that Naruto could use the Clone Jutsu…or…

a Shadow Clone Jutsu! Shino thought, ecstatic.

They'd have to be subtle. Naruto would have to pass it off as a regular clone quickly, but even if they were caught, the Sandaime would likely overlook it, right? He was one of the few people Shino actually thought had his friend's best interest in mind.

Oh sure, Shino would get some flack for teaching the forbidden jutsu, but the Third knew his past and might be willing to overlook it if it meant the town goof stopped painting on his and the other Hokage's faces every other day.

The more Shino chewed on the idea, the more he liked it.

Yeah! Yeah! I'm so goddamn bright, no wonder I wear shades!

But wait. He had learned the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu at the Foundation…Could he even teach it?

Shino thought about it for a second before shaking his head. Now wasn't the time to throw rocks in his own path. Sometimes helping a friend meant taking a leap of faith. He'd figure it out, or he wouldn't.

Speaking of leaps. Shino hopped down from the roof to land among a few of his fellow graduates and their families before making his way to Naruto, still sitting dejected on the swing. Then he heard them.

"There, you see him?" A woman with a headband sneered.

"It's that boy. I heard he's the only one who failed." Her friend replied.

"Hmph. Well, it serves him right."

"Just imagine what would happen if he became a ninja. I mean he's the boy who-"

"You hags got something to say," Shino interjected coldly.

Both women turned to him, their puzzlement turning to anger.

"What did you say you little crap!" Headband said, her voice rising.

"Do you know who our husbands are?" Her friend added.

"Probably a couple of no-name Chunin has-beens." Shino shot back. "They here? Call em over so I can give them the beating they never gave you two cows. I won't even charge your kids to watch."

"Who the hell do you-"

"Makes you proud, huh? Talking shit about a kid that isn't even yours. Makes you feel strong to talk down about someone you're not even brave enough to face, right? Where are your goddamn kids! I'm gonna-"

"Now now!" Mizuki's voice cut in.

"Let's all just calm down," Iruka added placing himself between his former student and the women.

Everyone was staring at him. He almost hadn't realized it, but his kikaichū, sensing his agitation, had begun to fizzle out of his coat and across his skin like a threatening deadly mist. Even his shoulder seal was itchy. Had he really been that angry?

Shino walked away then, ignoring both his former teachers, the mothers, and the students who instinctively knew to get behind their parents. No one messed with Shino when he was pissed. No one.

Making his way toward Naruto, Shino was pleasantly surprised to see the depressed look on the boy's face, gone. Replaced by curiosity and a bit of worry.

"What the heck happened there?"

"Nothing," Shino replied. "Nothing worth talking about anyway."

The dead look in Naruto's eyes returned as he began to kick his feet and move the swing. "I bet you're gonna say you told me so, huh? Well, you're right. We should have gone with your plan…Do you think…Do you think Lord Hokage will let me go to the Academy one more time? I'd be a little older than everyone else, but I…I really wanted." Naruto's eyes began to water.

"Shut up," Shino said, surprising Naruto. "You won't need to."

"What?"

"You heard me," Shino said pulling out a small wad of money. "Dad gave me extra so you and I could pig out today. I don't intend to waste it. Got it."

"But how-"

"Follow me," Shino said. "It's a longshot but…we're getting you that headband."

Author's Notes:

Whiplash? Too bad. Ima try to finish this by next chapter, then we off to the teams, and setting up SIno's big mission. I'd like to hear ideas both for that and for the Chunin exam. I'm playing with the idea of Ameyuki and the Valley of Lies (look it up) so that Shino can uh…get the mud release. *Wink* *Wink*. Maybe setting it up as an escort mission that turns into a murder mystery.

For Chunin exams, I'm playing with the idea of not having the exam take place in Konoha, yet ending in a similar way…just trying to figure out how…so…if you have ideas…you know…talk.

As usual, I've proofread this once, twice, thrice. But I'm not a machine. If you see any typo's or mistakes. Do let me know.

Mero Out.

-Peace