A/N:
You know how effective it could be for the creativity of an author if he got some feedback? Have to say some private Conversations and reviews really helped me to sort out some points I struggled with. You may have noticed that I often use a combination of timeskips and flashbacks. I hope to get us through all AU worldbuilding with a decent but followable pace. Act II will have less flashbacks I think.
So here you go, Chapter 3, still no claim to ownership of the Naruto franchise and still no official beta reader :D. Please Enjoy!
Uzumaki Compound - Final Day of Academy year two
Naruto stood in the training ground with Mito and Hatsumi. Hatsumi and Naruto were in the process of learning the Uzumaki Taijutsu from the scrolls and under the ever critical eye of Mito. The Rising Wave Tai Jutsu was like the Interceptor Fist or the Gentle Fist to support one in application of bloodline Traits. The Uzumaki Fuinjutsu prowess was one thing and the other was the Uzumaki Chains some could manifest.
After Testing both, Mito was sure Naruto could learn the full style. His chains were still shaky at best but he could manifest them on will. Hatsumi would have to use the simplified Version without chains. Mito knew of her true identity but it was not her place to tell Naruto about it. Kushina's decision to acknowledge Hatsumi and her accomplishment to create some kind of artificial uzumaki traits was mind boggling. She would have to adapt and was sure she could mix the Interceptor fist with that style but to make her cover more believable she would have to mix. Both would learn to apply seals by touch. Lessons she was sure Kushina would teach, but now she focussed on the katas. Like Gentle Fist the Rising Wave used Open Palms. The Hyuuga would use it to target the Tenketsu while the Uzumaki could apply seals or spawn Chain Tipps out of the palms. The enemy should be distracted away from the applied Fuinjutsu, so many strikes and Kicks looked fancy or strong. The simple answer is they could be strong if the user was strong but most Uzumaki used the full advantages and impaled them with their chain tips or used quickly applied bomb tags.
With each lesson Naruto was told about his clan he applied himself more in his studies. That he could use the adamantine sealing chain was one of his happiest days in recent memory of the blonde. His education skyrocketed with a human person to train with. Hatsumi had established herself in the village with some trickery as a civilian chef with a small stand for street food. Her little booth was at the academy, where she could have an eye on her son. Better yet, both eyes, after she reclaimed a dowry so to speak in the form of the eyes of her late husband. She trained her new powers in secret and worked on her sealing. As cover for her Uzumaki identity she sold minor seals to the Konoha Armory. While she and Naruto tried to perform the katas to the satisfaction of Mito Uzumaki she had to remember the technique which made all of that possible.
Flashback Start
"Okay Naruto I see every day you are more bored with the academy. You get here with a mixture off fatigue and skittishness and I am fed up with it. You learned the Henge in the academy right?"
Mito's reserves of patience seemed strained or nearly empty as Naruto looked back with a defeated expression. He bowed his head a bit. While Hatsumi looked a bit out of it with Mito.
"Gomen Mito Sensei. It is just like the class learns so slowly. The only good thing is that Sasuke and I can train Taijutsu together, because nobody can match us. But the theory, we already finished that like six months ago. We still go over the map of the elemental nations. I mean okay. There are some civilians who still have problems with that but all clan kids and those from merchants are also bored. The history lessons are not complete. They are missing anything about Uzu, about us. It's bad"
Naruto's position was clear. His enthusiasm increased with each word to tell how bad it was. Mito was confused. She knew the academy was sometimes boring and hold back the faster learners or those with families which supplemented the teachings with private tutoring of clan knowledge. However she knew the curriculum her Brother in Law based the academy on. Something wasn't right. She had to find out what.
"Okay Naruto. You will get your first Mission right now. You will copy the academy curriculum and it should be in the headmasters office. You are quick with your writing thanks to our practice so to copy down the graduation requirements and main topics of the next years should be easy."
The red haired clone turned to Hatsumi. And spoke gently.
"I would appreciate it if you would shadow him to rate his execution and intervene if things go bad. But Naruto" She looked to him again with a raised brow
"I should not mention it but just for clarification if Hatsumi Chan has to save you you're mission is rated as failure and you will have to do double chores for the next week including laundry and gardening each day."
Naruto gulped a bit while Hatsumi chuckled and nodded to Mito signaling she would help.
Mito motioned them to start and Naruto concentrated for a bit holding a Ram Sign he transformed a bit later in Iruka, one teacher he could stand because in Naruto's words he was a good guy. Hatsumi and Mito were certain he was a good guy because he invited Naruto to Ramen sometimes. He could easily hold a Henge for hours. Even while Taijutsu training and hits it never dispelled. A result of the Fox Hatsumi thought. After a short nod between the one and a half ninja they disappeared in a classic leaf Shunshin. Naruto still needed a Sign but he could dodge objects now. After Shisui woke from his coma he taught Naruto everything about his signature move till he was good enough to use it on battle distance and long travel distances. Only Thing Naruto could not get to work on, before Shisui had to go look for Itachi, was the afterimage part. He used the classic leaf disguise but as somebody not even finished with basic training and able to do the shunshin with only one handsign on different distances was an accomplishment. While she thought about those events, they both arrived at the academy she was disguised as a female teacher she knew about from the kunoichi classes. Every now and then the kunoichi sensei would arrive with her class to be told about the art of onigiri or the preparation of food for assaination.
"Okay Naruto Kun, you know what to do. I will stay out of your way. Good Luck!"
Hatsumi nodded him in the right direction and disappeared out of viewing range only to observe from a different angle.
Naruto in his Iruka disguise was sensing the signatures. As he could feel the headmaster was still in his office he knew he would have to do something to get to his objective undetected. He browsed his utility bag for seal tags and after some seconds he had a little decoy tag. One of the first he was allowed to create after his own design. The decoy tag would give out the sound of a little explosion like children's fireworks but a bit louder. After he made sure only he and the headmaster were in that part of the academy he applied the tag which would dissolve with the intended bang. After activating he used the intended delay to get some room between the corridor of the headmaster office and himself. He waited and listened for the sound. After hearing it, shortly followed by the voice of the headmaster he turned the corner and looked searching and seemingly surprised at the headmaster.
"Umino San? You heard that ruckus? I Thought you were on your way home?"
Naruto nodded. Letting the Kunai vanish in his Kunai Bag imitating Iruka's Voice.
"Greetings Headmaster Sama. Yes *cough* I was coming back looking for some of my notes *cough* As I wanted to turn in I heard that noise and moved here. Everything seems okay."
After all his training Naruto was good with voices but to disguise some irregularities he coughed some to throw the headmaster off and mentally crossed his fingers that it would be enough. The headmaster nodded, seemingly buying in Naruto's attempt.
"You always were one of my more motivated teachers, Umino San. You can even manage the Uzumaki Brat. Do you know you are the only one he hasn't pranked yet. I could be sure he was here. His pranks are harmless but sometimes they are a real nuisance. Well Umino San, you sound a bit ill. Did you catch a cold during the survival exercise with your class?"
Naruto internally chuckled and all seems to be going to plan. He shrugged in Iruka's form. He motion he could watch in the class often paired with the sacking of the shoulders.
"Could be Headmaster Sama. I think I will go see a med nin to be safe. Before that I was wondering if I could make a request?"
The headmaster nodded to both things and motioned him to go forward with his request relaxing a bit in his door.
"Could I get another copy of the academy curriculum? I want to check it against my lesson plan"
Here goes nothing thought the blonde in disguise. The headmaster chuckled, vanishing in his office for a moment to come back some seconds later with a scroll. To give it to Iruka.
"As I said. one of my best motivated teachers. Here you go. But now it's time to go home Umino San."
Iruka put the scroll away and bowed to the headmaster. He made his way out evading some people, rejoining a smiling Hatsumi to both vanish via Shunshin. The rumors the next day would be something to laugh about.
Both arrived in the compound and Hatsumi recommended his ingenuity with the disguise, seal and overall approach. Mito nodded and reached for the scroll to study it.
The next day both would learn the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. Mito was everything but not amused over the curriculum, it was a disgrace and Naruto should not waste his time.
He would send a Kage Bunshin for theoretical lessons and only join for some of the practicals on which the clone could be dispelled.
Hatsumi would use the clones for her work to earn her living to be a believable civilian. The Uzumaki compound was self-sufficient. They had clear water and fresh vegetables. In the adjoining forest was enough wildlife to sustain ten to fifteen people. Neither Naruto or her would have to work but Deception was key.
Flashback end
Both of them used clones for everything minor. Naruto was able to easily use 20-30 clones for supplemental taks. Provide seals for Hatsumi to sell or raid the library for further study material.
In the last year additional to their conditioning and Taijutsu Narutos Chakra Control Exercises and other Shinobi arts started. Hatsumi was very happy she could teach him Buki Jutsu. Shuriken, Kunai and Senbon were salvaged or bought to be thrown over and over again till Naruto could hunt with them.
"Okay enough you two. Hatsumi you need to be more fluid on the transition from defensive to offensive. Naruto, why did you stop suddenly?"
Mito looked inquisitive on the blonde who scratched the back of his head.
"You see Sensei, My clone from the academy dispelled. That was a really boring graduation day. I had to quickly sort through everything. At the moment my learning clones dispel every hour to give me quicker access and the sorting is faster like that."
Mito nodded and both were released from today's physical training. Hatsumi would train a little bit more in private while Naruto would move to his scroll across the village or join Sasuke for the strange Training session they have.
They wouldn't talk the whole time just exchanging fists. Naruto still used the botched academy still his teachers wanted him to learn but mixed it with the uzumaki style. the fights were close but it was the only thing Sasuke would allow. That and his daily Onigiri he got from Hatsumi's Booth for a reduced price. Hatsumi heard how the village pampered him, in many cases he wouldn't need a Ryo to get things. She reduced the prices for him but only to not waste material. She may have disguised herself as an outsider but she was still his mother and could only hope to get some values into the thick skull of an Uchiha.
With Naruto
Naruto was laying on the ground beside Shikamaru and watched the clouds.
"You know Shika, as you invited me to go cloud watching I got the impression that was code for something, but after ten minutes it is really relaxing."
Shikamaru snorted, chewing on the ear of corn in his mouth.
"Well Naruto, school is out for today. If i get home too soon my mother will nag me about something, so troublesome."
Naruto chuckled and was really enjoying hanging out with Shikamaru. He got to know some of the kids in his class. But with exceptions the parents of many would shun him and hold him at distance.
The clan heirs were not in this group, he could talk to all of them with the exception of Ino. She and this civilian kid Sakura were part of the Sasuke fan club and were swooning every time he would do something. Kiba and him would joke about that. The only girl seemingly uninterested was Hinata. She was a strange one. everytime they would meet she would get red in the face. All of that started after a Taijutsu match with Sasuke got heeded and both of them lost their T-shirts. After asking Hatsumi Chan, and Mito Sensei the only thing he understood from the explanation was that Hinata may be shy. Girls are strange.
Naruto interacted with some of his classmates on a regular basis. Everything was peaceful if you would ignore the glares or whispers about something about a demon. Till one day Naruto was on his way to the Hokage Mountain to meditate on the head of his idol, the fourth Hokage. He was good at sealing and was not even a Uzumaki he would have to surpass him.
He laughed internally and would have turned right at a little crossing if he didn't sensed four small signatures with one in the middle being a bigger one he knew.
What he could see was Hinata in the middle with a box of cinnamon rolls somebody knocked over.
"Oh is the blind crybaby crying Wee Wee"
mocked the tallest of them while kicking the box away and mimicking someone balling their eyes out.
Naruto tried to ascertain the situation. Hinata was on the ground crying and whispering for them to stop. The three Boys wore a Headband with the Konoha Sign, definitely Genin or above. He would have to be fast and surprise them.
He channeled Chakra through his body and jumped in the middle covering Hinata and pushing the boy who presumably was the leader away.
"Hey, leave her alone!" He cried out.
"Oh look out somebody wants to play hero" the one to the left mocked while the leader got back in the fray after getting pushed away by Naruto. Said blonde wasn't really afraid. He could escalate things really quick but that would show too much. He helped Hinata up with ease and switched to a fully Rising Wave Opening stance.
Again the three Genin laughed, pointing at him one holding his stomach panting.
"Oh Look. He thinks he can fight us!"
"Hilarious"
Before the third could say a word Naruto rushed him and nailed him with a reverse roundhouse heel to head. The Genin flew a bit till he landed on the streets. His two friends followed him with their eyes, clearly shocked by what happened here.
Naruto stayed in a guarding position by Hinata's side.
"I say it one last time. Leave!" Naruto growled showing his teeth and canines.
He flared his Chakra once.
One of the three gulped a bit and was sensitive to it and wanted to hold his buddy's back. But the one kicked down was again standing, his face bruised.
"You will pay for that. Scum." he screeched. One hand sliding in his Kunai Pouch and pulling one out holding it in a reverse grip he rushed at Naruto with a wide swipe. The unrefined technique and the speed was laughable for the Uzumaki heir but he had to stay under the radar so he dodged with precision to let the Kunai rip a part of his T-Shirt cutting open a bit of his skin, drawing blood. Naruto smirked. He knew that would be enough. His right hand reached for the wrist of the hand holding the kunai. While he locked around the wrist the left palm striked at the elbow joint with all his cold precision. The noticeable crack signified the success of his mission. The Genin screamed and dropped his Kunai, which was catched by Naruto, kicking the disarmed genin in the back to get some room.
He pivoted on his standing leg, blocking the kick of the one who wanted to sneak attack him from behind with one elbow, striking the other over his left shoulder right at the collarbone.
Leaving the second one panting.
Seeing his chance for an escape he picked Hinata up in a bridal style.
"Gomen Hinata chan, but I think that's our cue to leave."
The blushing Hinata could only nod never trusting her voice at this moment. Naruto used his normal speed and strength to rush for the Hyuuga compound. One street away he halted and putting her down.
"You should be good to go Hinata Chan. I think it would be better that I was not seen carrying you to your compound by your Guards."
Still flushed she nodded a bit if reluctantly she took all her courage stepped to Naruto and hugged him.
"Thank.. you Naruto Kun" she stuttered. She wanted to rush to the gate as Naruto stopped here.
"Hinata Chan. You know. You are a kind person. But please.. you won't you wont have to let such bullies bully you. You are like super strong I can feel that. Please train more okay. So next you maybe can save me okay?"
He smiled at her, how could she say no when he smiled at her like that. Again she won't trust her voice not to stutter which was really embarrassing so she nodded again then left to her compound.
Naruto took the route to his apartment in the red light district. He had a premonition of what would happen next and did not want to risk something. In an empty and quiet alley he felt for signatures used the Kage Bunshin and sent the clone under a henge to the compound. As he reached for the door a Anbu with a dog mask appeared.
"Uzumaki San? Hokage Sama wants to see you."
Naruto grinned and nodded
"Then we should not let him wait Inu San. Can I catch a ride?"
The Anbu showed nothing but chuckled under his mask to shunshin with him to the Hokage tower.
At the Hyuuga compound
Hinata did something she has not done in a long time. She stood before the door which led to the office of her father. She told the guard of the branch family with a kind smile that she wanted to see him to discuss matters of importance. To say the guard was surprised that the stuttering heiress could form coherent sentences was an understatement so he did what was asked of him. Seconds later he allowed Hinata to go through.
Hinata entered the room of her father. Bowed and took some deep breaths. Hiashi Hyuuga looked at her with a serious mask. In him he was surprised. Never did his oldest come to him from her own violation after her mother died.
"You wanted to see me daughter?" he opened the conversation with a neutral tone.
Hinata was fighting with a panic attack, but remembered the smile of Naruto and her promise.
"As I was buying cinnamon rolls … I … I was attacked… "
Hiashi's mood quickly adjusted to what he heard.
"Who exactly would attack a Hyuuga?"
Hinata nodded still controlling her breathing.
"Three young .. Young Gening I would say."
He looked her up and down. Her clothes were a bit dirty but she seemed not hurt in any way. Sighing a bit without letting that emotion be shown.
"Seems they underestimated you daughter. I am grateful that you finally learned to act like you should."
Hinata had problems saying those next words and her body was shaking a bit from anxiety.
"I was defended by .. by one of my classmates… Uzumaki San…"
That surprised the Hyuuga clan head.
"I see, I will thank him. A pity daughter that you needed help."
He was unrelenting.
Hinata gulped a bit.
"I request more training time with Cousin Neji. I … I don't want to … to need help anymore. I … will train .. train hard and don't want to disappoint you Tou san."
In her head she was fighting the tears of joy to request something and not stutter the whole time. The little victories even if the disapproval of her father hurt her more than the hits sometimes.
Hiashi Hyuuga was stunned to say the least. He could not really say what happened but finally his daughter seems to be coming out of her shell. Maybe there was some hope left for his plans to unite the clan. All thanks to Uzumaki Naruto. He nodded to his daughter.
"You can make the arrangements yourself. He is a branch member afterall. Now leave me alone if you would."
Hinata bowed to her father, leaving through the door to let Hiashi think about the encounter.
He would not stay alone for long as a guard informed him that the Hokage wanted to see him.
Same time Hokage Tower
Naruto stood before Hiruzen Sarutobi. Behind him stood Inu. A bit on the side stood a Konoha Jonin if the vest was any indication. Naruto could deduce what this meeting would be about so he started before the Hokage had the chance.
"Hey Jiji. You want to know what happened to his Genin, right."
Naruto pointed to the Jonin and smiled a bit.
The Hokage could feel that Jonin wanted to say something but one gesture with his hand was enough to silence him.
"Naruto we don't point at people with our fingers except on missions you know that."
He scolded him good natured.
"You see Jiji that's the thing. I kind of was on a mission."
He chuckled scratching the back of his head smiling.
"Oh really Naruto Kun? A mission you say? What kind of a mission?"
The Hokage was intrigued. The story the Jonin told sounded like Naruto assaulted Shinobi. An offense as a civilian.
"Well protection detail of course. I protected a princess from a clan from being bullied by the Genin."
Naruto began with his carefree attitude, still smiling. The Jonin was nearing a breaking point, what the dog masked Anbu noticed only to appear by his side, putting a hand on the Jonin's shoulder and shaking his head.
The Hokage was surprised he knew Naruto would not lie to his face.
"Well Student Uzumaki, so be it report your mission"
Naruto nodded enthusiastically. His hands began to gesture to his words.
"I was on my way to Hokage mountain to relax after the academy. As I turned a corner between the merchants district and Takeshi's bakery. You know the one with the Cinnamon Rolls known in the whole village. As I heard the sound of a scuffle. I looked around said corner to observe three Genin harassing the Hyuuga Heiress Hinata Chan. She is in my class and super cool, dattebayo. On the ground laid a box with cinnamon rolls. I think that would be Hinatas, she has this sweet tooth you know. Well the boys said super mean words and were kicking her a bit. She is my classmate and I could not see anybody so I rushed and pushed one of them away. I told them to leave her alone. But they just laughed at me.
One of them wanted to push me so I kicked him away. And things happened"
He looked a bit sheepishly at the Hokage but continued his tale.
"Well we were told to flare our chakra if something happens so I did that and tried to defend my I got a cut in my shirt from a Kunai one of them had. That tickled a bit."
The whole room was stunned for words. The Hokage already had the report from Kakashi's Anbu so he knew that Naruto was speaking the truth. He wanted to interrupt Naruto that he heard enough but Naruto was faster.
"Well and after I disarmed one of them and knocked the other back I rushed Hinata away to her compound. Pity about the rolls though, they smelled nice. Under Konohas Law I just defended a fellow shinobi, civilian heiress thingy you know and here I am. You can ask Hinata Chan. But I wanted to protect her from her negative reactions those Hyuuga can be scary with eyes I tell you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed a bit. A certain Anbu was very proud of the little blonde his squad shadowed him and had seen nearly everything to say they were surprised would be an understatement but he heard that Naruto was always seen training with Sasuke and they both were the top of the class in taijutsu with a big gap between them and the others.
"Very well thank you. Inu get Naruto outside, somebody get me Hiashi we have to discuss how to punish the Genin."
Naruto was dropped at his apartment by an Anbu with a cat mask and smiled. He noticed the small thumbs up from Inu before he was shunshined away. His clone reported everything and it was late. Time to sleep for a bit.
This was not the only Circumstance in the next few weeks. The whispers and antagonism against naruto increased and to get away from it Naruto used the Henge like crazy. Switching Genders and everything. He always used a different disguise when he got to the compound. Hinata thanked him again in the academy one day after the incident but everything else seemed to be normal.
A/N 20/04/23:
In most cases I will answer your reviews via PM.
I thank all reviewers for their thoughts. I should and I qoute "cook" you guys more often to get this gems of personal opinion.