Author's Note: Hope yall have enjoyed the story I've weaved for yall so far, the next two chapters, including this one, will be the last of the pre-Academy stuff before we finally jump into the start of Naruto. Also Quick side note, apologies for the lack of breakups between each of the headers, in Word I did have borders separating them but for some reason that was lost when I exported to , I have corrected the mistake.

Summary: Naruto knew something bad happened, but he'll try to break the wall that's formed between him and Sasuke. Meanwhile, his skills begin to improve and other classmates begin to notice.

Friends found and Friends Lost

Location: ? (Time: Night of the Massacre [Naruto's Pov]

The blonde shuddered, breathing deeply, attempting to calm himself as he looked at his best friend, he raised a mangled hand and moved it to secure his Sode. The second he touched the armor it slid off his shoulder with a sickening thud, his laughter echoed through the valley as he took in his sorry state. His bowstring had snapped soon into the battle, his Katana shattered, and his armor was falling apart at the seams. The odds were even.

"Is this the best a Samurai can offer dobe? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, you were always weak," the Oni channeled through Sasuke's skin goaded, skin seeped with corruption as it took the hue of a man who had long since rotted.

Naruto unsealed his Nodachi, unfettered by the wounds on his body, he grasped the hilt of the blade with two hands and relaxed his stance to wield the blade laxly to the side. "I…I man…I think…you broke something," he said with a choked laugh before he quickly parried the three kunai Sasuke threw at him and met the duck-haired Oni in battle.

Location: Naruto's Apartment (Time: 1:30 AM, Morning after Massacre) [Naruto's Pov]

Naruto woke up with a start, shaking his head he looked around his room, sparse, but clean, and lacking a demon-possessed Teme. Laughing he shook his head…that…that wouldn't happen to Sasuke right? Besides, the Bastard was beating him when he was using a Katana and using some cool armor! He could barely beat him when it was just Taijutsu, he doubted that he would be able to beat him when he was serious.

Ha, yeah, that was probably just a nightmare. Shaking his head Naruto went to get water and wondered why he saw so many Shinobi running across the rooftops.

"Probably Nothing," his hoarse voice muttered to himself, before he finished his cup of water, and went back to sleep, even if it was a nightmare, he needed his sleep. He'd have to get extra strong to make sure that Sasuke knew who was the best.

Temple of Inari (Four days after Massacre) [Naruto's Pov]

Why did he do it? It didn't make any sense; to make things worse, Sasuke-teme still hadn't woken up. How was he supposed to cheer him up if he couldn't see him? All that Ramen he bought him….it didn't go to waste, but his stomach was hurting something fierce every time he had to return from the hospital and find out that his friend was still unconscious.

He sighed and stopped swinging the wooden katana at his imaginary foe…what was worse was that he still couldn't get that strange dream out of his mind. Since that night he wanted to make sure Sasuke was his usual self, but he clearly wouldn't be, he wasn't even his usual self!

Damn it, he wouldn't be able to think if his thoughts kept going back to duck hair, so, knowing Daiki-Sensei wouldn't like him to waste time, he put away his training tool, and walked back to the temple. His sensei may not be there, but he always could try to improve his Kanji.

After a few minutes of pacing back and forth between Daiki-sensei's room, Naruto sighed and walked towards the entrance of the temple, maybe he'd best take today off? His thoughts of leaving left him when he saw the Inari statue, and the distinct absence of everyone. Lips quirked up, Naruto walked over to the statue, bowed his head, and began to talk to the statue.

"I apologize for wasting your time Inari-sama, I'm…I don't think I know what to do anymore." Naruto admitted to the statue, before looking around and sitting in the meditative stance Daiki-Sensei always told him to practice in.

"Daiki-sensei…I know he doesn't like Ninja…I don't know if I do either, but is there a difference in being a Samurai?", Naruto asks the statue as he thinks about what he had done since he had begun to learn with Daiki-sensei. He shook his head; he knew things were different…but what if his dream was a vision? Like Daiki-sensei talked about in his weird stories.

"Sasuke wouldn't do that…where would he find an Oni anyway?", he muttered to himself before nodding sharply, maybe…maybe some Ramen would cheer him up, Daiki-sensei wanted him to eat healthier like anything could be better than the food of the Ichiraku-Kami, but desperate times called for good food.

Getting up, Naruto bowed at the statue and walked out of the temple, bowing at Yuri as he passed her, and began to think about Inari-Kami. For some reason, praying to the Kitsune helped him, he didn't expect that only Ichiraku-Kami could help him, but he guessed he never gave the other Kami a chance. Laughing he nodded, he couldn't wait to learn more about the Kami, Daiki-Sensei said there were more.

It wouldn't hurt to learn about the beings that made the world, right? As he mused about the Kami, he heard a yipping sound, and in the corner of his eyes, he saw something fluffy sitting at the corner of the road. When he looked, his eyes widened as he took in a fox, a real fox! He'd only seen pictures or…bodies of them. It had a great coat of white fur! Weird, he thought to himself, the foxes he'd seen were orange, like him! Well…a bit muted…but still. Weirder still it had a line across its little face, maybe a scar? Life in the forest must be hard for the little guy…especially so close to Konohagukre.

The Fox lapped up the attention, even if it looked weird, it was funny. Jumping and leaping to the side, making strange sounds. Smiling he moved to pet the little guy, but it ran, frowning he watched it run away. Shrugging, he prepared to resume his journey before its curious head poked itself out of the forest it had run into and stared at him.

Curious, Naruto filled himself with courage and followed the fox. More than a few times he had to backtrack and wait for the little fox to come back, though the snow made that a little hard, how was he supposed to see something so fluffy in the weather? He blended in! After he finished questioning himself, he realized that he had caught up to the little fox, looking around, he realized that…he didn't know where they were, but it was beautiful.

The snow had covered everything his eye could see, but further still, the weather took what the snow couldn't cover, a big lake, and turned it to ice. He saw curious animals roaming, hunting for food so their families could survive the winter, and looked down at the fox. It was beautiful but why did he bring him here? Yipping the fox chittered before it ran into a burrow.

Frowning, Naruto looked at the burrow and shook his head, no, he doubted he could fit down there. Sighing he sat down and looked around at the beautiful scenery. Shaking a little, he brought his hands close and blew on them, then he saw it leaping back out, carrying, and tugging at a little pendant.

The fox yipped as it finally laid the pendant before its quarry, who looked at the fox for a few seconds before he risked it all. He scratched the little guy behind the ears and smiled as it mewled and scratched at its side, it was just like a dog, he mused to himself as he lathered the kitsune in love. Only it liked him!

"You need a name," he decided after a few minutes of petting and scratching the kitsune, who looked up at him with a twisted expression, before yipping," How about…Yuki?", he asked the snow-colored fox. Who yipped once again before biting the pendant and then his leg.

Yelping he leveled a frown at Yuki before he laughed, "All right, all right Yuki, let's see here…", he muttered as he picked up the pendant and looked it over, what was that symbol? It looked like…Kanji? But so worn that he couldn't read it. It was made of twine and wood, it was cheap, but as he put it on his neck, it felt right.

Yuki obviously thought so, yipping with excitement, laughing Naruto decided that maybe, just maybe, Ramen could be put aside for now, his little friend's heart wouldn't stand for him leaving!

Academy (Three Days Later) [Naruto's Pov]

Dang it, why did the Academy have to start up again? It was boring, the past two days he spent trying to find, and whenever his prey inadvertently found him, playing with Yuki. The little fox was fast and didn't lack for fun! If only he didn't keep trying to pee on him…

His eyes widened when he saw Sasuke walk in and sit near the front…that…that wasn't right, they always sat near the back so they could easily jump out and spar. Shaking his head he focused on the lesson, he probably just wanted to focus for once, something to get him out of his spunk!

Naruto nearly walked out of the class when he realized that Sasuke must have woken up when he was playing with Yuki, man, that was his luck! Laughing he leaned back, he couldn't wait till he talked to Sasuke, it wouldn't take too long for everything to return back to normal.

Cafeteria (Two hours later) [Hinata's Pov]

Naruto-Kun looked like he wanted to jump up and tackle Sasuke-san, twiddling her fingers together she tried and failed to repress the thought of surprise that he hadn't done so during class. She watched him walk up, with obvious cheer towards his best friend, and recoil as though struck. Her eyes widened when Naruto-kun got up and prepared to fight Sasuke-San, then he was down, staring up at Sasuke-san in surprise as he clutched his throat and attempted to breathe.

Wincing she looked around and saw how no one had moved to help the blonde, and parted ways to avoid the raven. Shaking away her worries she ran toward Iruka-sensei's classroom. He looked up and smiled as she entered," Can I help you Hinata-san?",

"A…ah, Iruka-Sensei…Naruto-san…heneedshelp get-…getting to the n-…nurse," she told her Sensei, stuttering or rushing her words together. Face beet red she followed the now serious Sensei, and stared in surprise at the broody blonde, eating some Instant Ramen like nothing had happened.

"Don't waste my time like that again, okay Hinata-san?", Iruka-Sensei commanded, staring at Naruto-San eating before he shook his head and walked back to his classroom.

Hinata studied the blonde with wide eyes before she nodded at her teacher's departing back, eyes downcast before she looked up with steely resolve, if Naruto-San didn't need her help to go to the nurse, maybe he needed a friend?

As she walked toward the blonde, she could fear her spine slowly turning to jelly, but before she could turn around, Naruto-San saw her. "Hey, Hinata-chan!", the blonde exclaimed with a grin as he slurped up some noodles, shedding his momentary broodiness.

"Watcha doing over here?", he asked with a carefree grin, to the girl who felt her hands grow clammy and throat dry.

"N..n…nothing Naruto-San, areyouokaythatlookedlikeitreallyhurt?", she blurted out, face red as she watched the blonde's face contort in confusion as he attempted to understand her words.

"Ah…yes?", he asked with confusion before he nodded with certainty. "Yeah I'm fine…wasn't the first time the bastard did a cheap trick like that, but just you watch, I'll beat that bastard black and blue for pulling a mean one like that when all I did was care," Naruto said with a grin and a puffed chest.

Letting out a deep breath, along with some of her anxiety, she nodded and smiled softly at him, "I know you can do it Naruto-san," she said before she realized she had spoken without thinking. Before the blonde could speak, she was gone.

Same place/Time [Naruto's Pov]

"Huh," he muttered to himself, Hinata was really nice. Nodding down to himself he went back to eating, rubbing his hand over his throat as he wished it would heal faster, damn bastard. Taking a cheap shot like that, shaking his head he finished his meal and went back to the class, glaring all the while at the raven-haired Teme who ignored him.

Temple of Inari (Six Months later) [Naruto's Pov]

His shoulders tensed as he dodged the blow and attempted to swing back at his Sensei, and instead ate wood as his Sensei mercilessly swung the Katana at his face, barely pulling back enough for the blonde to stay awake.

"Wuz dat?", the blonde mumbled as he stumbled, trying to regain balance before he let himself plop to the ground.

"You still haven't grasped feints yet Naruto-San.", his Sensei said with a stoic face as he got into a solitary stance, and repeated what he had done, demonstrating to the blonde who had finally gotten up and stared at his Sensei's stance with a confused glare.

"But where's the honor in that?", Naruto asked, confused about how a cheap trick like that was something a Samurai taught. Sighing his Sensei grabbed Naruto's katana, then motioned for him to follow. Naruto followed with a peaked interest, wondering what answers his Sensei would have for the blonde.

Pulling open the Shoji, his Sensei stepped inside, and put down the wooden tools before he sat down and motioned for Naruto to do the same. "Naruto-san, a feint, isn't a dirty trick, it's being aware of your blade, and being able to redirect it before an enemy can react, underhanded? Maybe, but it requires skill, dirty would have been sweeping your feet, attacking once I had seen you could no longer fight, going for your eyes, a feint can be countered just as easily as an ordinary blow if facing a skilled swordsmen," his Sensei lectured to the blonde, who stared at him, interest peaking ever higher as his confusion waned.

"But, why did you do that now, you'd never done that before?", questioned the blonde, rubbing his cheek with a pained expression, that would definitely bruise.

"Your skill with the stance is improving at leaps and bounds, but I would not, could not, allow for you to face something as I had done without any experience in the field of battle," his sensei patiently explained as he lectured, praising his skills but not withholding from his shortcomings, as they switched to his performance.

The blonde took everything he said with an eager expression, dream or not, Sasuke would never beat him again.

Clearing (Four Months Later) [Naruto's Pov]

"Sorry I haven't talked to you a lot Inari-sama, I've been thinking a lot about the past few months, Sasuke-teme still won't talk to me, Daiki-Sensei wants to kill me, I don't know how to use my legs, and I think Yuki stole my bread," Naruto said, dragging his head up and looking around the clearing before sighing. Letting his head slam against the ground with a soft plop. Naruto let his bruises heal in the nice clearing.

Naruto watched as Yuki ate his pastry with a smile before he sighed, staring at the sky in silence. It was a nice day to be sure, but he was turning eight now, and it didn't feel any different. Sure, he knew he was stronger, but he thought it'd be different from just learning haichus, haijus, hai lus? Daiki-Sensei acted like they were important but he didn't get it.

"My fox stole my bread, I don't get why, he is a meanie," Naruto said with a grin before he shook his head, that was wrong…he knew it…shaking his head he laid back. Gruh, even when he went to relax the ghost of Daiki-Sensei followed him everywhere.

Academy (Two Months Later) [Naruto's Pov]

Naruto groaned as he powered through the neck punch, Sasuke loved them so, before he grabbed the raven's shoulder and brought him in close, slamming his head into Sasuke-teme's, he watched triumphantly as the bastard almost collapsed. He missed the blow to the knee that Sasuke sent and missed the loud crack that accompanied it as he fell into darkness.

Academy, Medic Ward (Hour Later) [Naruto's Pov]

Naruto woke up with a start, looking around he saw his surroundings and groaned, another loss, and judging by his aching knee, and the fact that trying to move hurt horribly, he only lost because that bastard was willing to do anything to win. What was wrong with him? He was never like this before.

Frowning Naruto forced himself to get up, ignoring the confused look on the medic's face, he forced himself to hobble along, sure not to put too much pressure on the leg. It felt like it was getting better already, he had a bastard to talk to, and nothing would stop him from having this conversation.

Outside of Academy (Ten Minutes Later) [Naruto's Pov]

"Hey Sasuke, slow down will ya? Naruto yelled out, hobbling behind the raven as he left for the day. Instead of slowing down the bastard seemed to be picking up speed, walking faster than he could catch up, but not running.

Enraged Naruto threw caution out of the window and forced himself to run, it hurt, but he needed to talk to the bastard. It took him some time, but he almost caught up, then he saw the duck-haired bastard start running.

"Dammit Sasuke, you cowardly bast-…," before he could finish insulting the raven, he felt himself be kicked up into the air, and land with a thud against the cold dirt. Looking up he saw an enraged Uchiha stalking forth.

"What do you want Dobe? Do you want me to beat you up again? Was the spar not enough proof that you can't beat me?" He hissed out, anger pouring off him in the waves.

Anger began to pour into Naruto as well, how dare he? They were friends! He almost won that fight! Why did he have to be like this? "Why are yo…", a punch interrupts his words, and he feels his cheek begin to bruise.

"Stop talking to me Naruto, leave me alone, I don't care about what you want to talk about, what you think, we're not friends, stop acting like we ever were."

Sasuke leaves the blonde to sit alone, bruised, battered, and confused, on the training grounds. When he can finally stand up, he forces himself to hobble back to his home and doesn't leave until the next day. Training can wait, today, he'd think about what his friend had become. He wouldn't get much sleep, but he would think.

Temple of Inari (Three Months Later) [Naruto's Pov]

Naruto huffed as he stared out into the void, trying to think about the words that his Sensei had said before he looked back up in confusion, "Why do I need to learn about this Sensei?" He asked, genuinely curious. Wasn't a Samurai just supposed to be honorable and strong?

His Sensei shook his head, almost like he could read his mind! "No Naruto, a Samurai is more than a warrior, we lead men into a greater future, but when we can't fight or lead, we think."

Twisting his head in confusion he looked at his Sensei running over the words in his mind. "Sensei, is all that stuff really important? I don't know…it feels strange to think that we have to learn all this just so I can call myself a Samurai." Naruto admitted to his teacher, conflicted, and confused about the strange lessons Daiki-sensei was imparting.

Laughing Sensei nodded, "I used to think the same, but look at me now! Old, tired, but teaching another bright flame to impart the torch once I pass," he said with a grin before he noticed Naruto's frown. Patting Naruto's head, he stood up and smiled.

"I'm not going to die tomorrow Naruto, but you're right, you're young, let's make sure you can beat me before you're as old as I am!", Daiki-Sensei said with a grin before motioning for Naruto to stand up.

That was more like it! The blonde thought as he leaped up and followed close behind his Sensei.

Academy (Seven Months Later) [Hinata's Pov][best girl-Taco]

She looked up and smiled as she saw the blonde enter the classroom and smiled even further when she saw him ignore Sasuke and walk towards Shikamaru. She didn't know how they became friends or even if they were friends, but she'd rather not watch Naruto collapse again.

She looked down nervously at the necklace she got him, engraved with Inari's Kanji…she wasn't supposed to, but she followed him one day, curious, and noticed that he had visited the old temple of Inari. Hopefully, he liked the gift, it was almost his birthday!

She watched as Iruka-sensei began to call out their names, so they could attempt their henge again, and went up when she was called and performed her henge with ease. She may be a failure to her father, but the Hyūga were insistent that their Chakra control was peerless before they began learning the Jūken.

She watched with a grimace as Naruto failed again, she couldn't understand why he never got it, he must train hard with all the bruises he came into class with, but he didn't even seem to care that he couldn't use do the Henge!

She shook her head, he was Naruto! He had a plan, he had to. She nodded her head with certainty, Naruto would pass!

Same place/time [Naruto's Pov]

Naruto sighed as he laid down on the table next to Shikamaru and thought about how he would pass, his Sensei was sure they'd pass him even if he couldn't use a simple Henge. Hopefully, he was right, when had Daiki-sensei led him wrong before?

Temple of Inari (Five Months Later) [Naruto's Pov]

Naruto threw himself back onto the ground, narrowly avoiding the slice to his legs but receiving a solid thump on the head, preferable, ever since they switched to blunted weapons sensei kept trying to disable his legs so he could make him be phil…philsof…sounds about right.

Smiling he raised his sword and yelped when his fingers were struck with cruel accuracy, throwing his sensei a hurt glare, he picked up his weapon and tried to return his Sensei in kind. A second thump and Naruto was on the ground.

"Well, this is the third time today, get your sword and we'll head inside, okay Naruto-San," Daiki-sensei commanded with a grin before motioning for him to enter the temple. Naruto sighed, thumbing Inari's Kanji under his shirt with a reassuring sigh. He never knew who gave it to him, it was on his door, he assumed Inari but that would be a bit much.

"Inari-sama would never do that, she's still cross that I pray more to Ichiraku-sama," Naruto said with a grin before running after his Sensei, last time he was late he had to sweep the temple! Never again!

Academy (Four Months Later) [Shikamaru's Pov]

Shikamaru looked up with a sigh and looked at the seat next to him, "What a drag", he snarked to himself before throwing his bag onto the seat next to him. The Blonde may be annoying but at least he didn't bother him, the same couldn't be said for Ino, she was louder than his mother!

He looked up in surprise as the blonde walked in without a bruise, which was new, usually, he was covered in them. After a few minutes of failing to pay attention, and then failing to fall asleep, he shifted his gaze over to the blonde and was surprised to see him writing out a pretty interesting battle plan…were those…Shogi pieces, the markings at least? He'd have to look at Tou-san's library when he got home, but it looked interesting, more interesting than whatever was going on in class at least.

"Hey Naruto, what are you doing there?", he asked, interested at what the blonde could be playing at.

"Oh, uh, my Sensei told me to look at a battle plan, and see if I can improve upon it, but I don't get how, we don't outnumber the enemy, we can't really bottleneck them…what am I supposed to do…", the blonde mused, and as Shikamaru looked over the sheet one more time, he closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

Sadly, for the lazy genius, he couldn't get the battle plan out of his mind, no matter how much he tried, nor could he stop asking himself who Naruto's Sensei was. Troublesome blondes, he tsked in his mind, always bothering him in one way or another!

Temple of Inari (Week Before Graduation) [Naruto's Pov]

"I don't get it Sensei, Iruka-sensei already taught us how to use a Kunai, why would I ever need to learn how to use a bow?" Naruto asked in confusion, staring at the strange contraption in confusion, sure he'd heard about them, and seen them used for hunting once or twice, but why wouldn't kunai suffice?

Daiki-Sensei sighed like he usually did when Shinobi were brought up. "Naruto, did you know that Kunai were once used as gardening tools? Simple instruments that could be used to dig holes, to pry that fence that was falling apart, well apart." His sensei lectured.

How was that right? They never talked about that in the academy. He thought to himself before stewing in silence for a few minutes.

Finally, he could think no longer, "But why do Shinobi use them? Why did we never learn about this from Iruka-sensei?", he finally asked, airing his thoughts out to his Sensei.

"Because Naruto, they were easy to steal, and once they were forced to create their own tools, easy to mass produce, and repair," Daiki-Sensei said with anger, face simmering with rage until he noticed Naruto's confused, and slightly hurt, expression.

"You sound like you hate Shinobi Sense," the blonde admitted to his angered teacher, watching as his teacher's face shifted too fast for him to catch each expression, but he did catch anger, a lot of it.

"Naruto…I…", Sensei stops talking, and breaths like he taught me to, inhaling deep, and exhaling before he sighs," I can't lie to you, I do hate Shinobi, and their institution as a whole," he admits. "They twist what should be the natural order of the world, and are lauded for it!", he told the blonde with anger before he noticed his displeasure.

"I don't hate the people, but I hate the thought of what they are, what they represent, tools meant to create life, now to destroy, tools meant to be used honorably, now used in the darkness, they raise children to kill and simply to kill." Your sensei said with rage that the blonde had no idea he ever had.

He awkwardly bowed to his Sensei before he looked at him and sighed," I need time to think, I don't mean to…I just need time, ya know?", he said awkwardly before walking towards the main temple and leaving his Sensei to stew alone.

He would think a lot about what his Sensei told him today. Especially about what he said about Shinobi. He had been training to be a Samurai more than a Shinobi but did Hinata, Shikamaru, did everyone he know deserve that animosity that Daiki-sensei held?

Author's Note: Apologies for how long this took to come out, didn't expect to be so crossed about what I should keep in here. Hopefully, yall enjoy the chapter, I had a lot of fun with it and am excited to finish Chapter 4. Please Review and Enjoy!