Two months and three weeks had slipped by unnoticed, and now, under the silvery light of early dawn, the scene unfolded at the entrance gates of Konoha. Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, tasked with guarding these pivotal thresholds, were both caught in the grips of sleep, slouched and snoring softly at their posts.
Breaking the morning's quiet, a man's voice, tinged with disdain, echoed through the air. "Wow, so this is the caliber of Chunin that Konoha boasts?" The sarcasm in his tone was sharp as a kunai.
A woman, her voice laced with amusement, responded, "It seems the Daimyo-sama had good reason to send us to accompany this future Chunin here."
Both speakers stood clad in the standard garb of Anbu, their faces obscured behind masks etched with the kanji for "fire," rendering them as mysterious as they were formidable.
A teenager with them, the subject of their jest, let out a low chuckle. "Well, I did tell you guys the village is very arrogant. I'm pretty sure it's due to their leader."
He was a stark contrast to his companions, dressed not in the traditional armor of the village, but in a black sweater with a menacing red hood, black cargo shorts adorned with royal red pockets, and ornate cooling gloves that gleamed subtly in the dim light. A katana was slung gracefully across his back. Despite his modest height, his aura was undeniably imposing.
Their presence didn't go unnoticed for long. "Identify yourselves," a new voice demanded authoritatively. It belonged to an Anbu with spiky brown hair who had materialized as silently as a shadow. Beside him, a female Anbu with long purple hair and a cat mask drew her tanto, her stance alert and ready.
The gate guards, startled awake by the sudden confrontation, scrambled clumsily to their feet, their embarrassment palpable as they realized the lapse in their vigilance.
"We've been sent by the Fire Daimyo to discuss the possibility of this young man participating in the Chunin exams," the male Anbu, his spiky sun-blonde hair catching the light, announced as he extended a scroll sealed with the Daimyo's emblem. The female Anbu in the cat mask examined the seal briefly before nodding in acknowledgment.
"Please follow us to Lord Hokage," she commanded, her voice authoritative yet calm. Without further delay, the group began a swift, fluid movement, leaping from rooftop to rooftop towards the Hokage's mansion, their silhouettes blurring against the sky.
As they traversed the village's skyline, the woman with flowing red hair and a blank mask observed the streets below. "The village seems more vibrant than our last visit," she commented, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"You haven't caught wind of the recent developments?" the tiger-masked Anbu replied, not turning to face her as they continued their rapid pace.
"We've been preoccupied with missions; news from the outside tends to reach us last," the sun-blonde haired man admitted.
"Nearly three months ago, Lord Uchiha Sasuke dealt with the Nine-Tails fox. The threat that loomed over us for so long is gone. There's no more fear of the demon's presence disrupting our sleep," the purple-haired woman explained, her tone reflecting a mix of relief and detachment.
"Are you referring to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?" the teenager in the red hood interjected, his youthful voice curious yet confident.
"And how would you be privy to such details, young man?" the tiger mask Anbu questioned sharply, his suspicion palpable in the air.
The teen shrugged nonchalantly. "It's hardly a secret around here. I've visited a few times before, and the villagers often spoke of the 'fox brat.' Besides, everyone knows the Fourth Hokage had to seal the beast within someone. It wasn't hard to put two and two together," he explained, his tone casual yet informed.
The woman with purple hair and a cat mask paused abruptly, casting a brief, sharp glance over her shoulder at the teenager's unexpected comment. "Has anyone told you, that you have a nice ass, Cat-chan?" Despite the casualness of his remark, her reaction was swift and her movements crisp; she turned away, her earlier faint smile replaced by a tight line. Something in his voice stirred a flicker of recognition, but she couldn't quite place it, leaving her disconcerted by the exchange.
As they approached the Hokage's mansion, the two Konoha Anbu leading the way maintained a professional silence, disturbed only by the rhythmic knocking on the office's sturdy wooden door. "Come in," beckoned a voice from within, aged yet undeniably authoritative—the Third Hokage.
The door swung open, and the Anbu stepped aside, allowing the three visitors to enter before taking up positions just behind them. The room was steeped in the quiet authority typical of the Hokage's presence.
"Welcome to Konohagakure no Sato. It's been a while since I've seen Anbu from the Fire Daimyo here," the Third Hokage greeted, his voice warm but his eyes scrutinizing the visitors with an eagle's precision.
The man with spiky sun-blonde hair, evidently the leader, stepped forward with a respectful bow. "Hokage-sama, we are here under direct orders from the Fire Daimyo to petition for our protege to participate independently in the Chunin Exams," he stated, unfolding a scroll and offering it to the Hokage. The document was heavy with seals, its contents a direct decree from the Daimyo, asserting that the young man accompanying them carried critical information and was under significant protection from the Daimyo himself. The script concluded with a stern warning: any aggression against this youth could provoke severe financial consequences for the village.
The Third Hokage took the scroll, his expression unreadable as he broke the seal and scanned the contents. His gaze then lifted, meeting the eyes of the young man in the red hood, a silent question lingering in the air between them.The Third Hokage unfurled the scroll, reading the details, then glanced at the teenager, who offered him only a glimpse of a grin from beneath a red hood. The tan skin of the young man's lower face was just visible, his smile growing as the Hokage absorbed the contents of the directive.
"This is the first time I have ever received something like this," the Third Hokage stated, his tone mixed with curiosity and unease. "Could you please show us who you are?" he asked, sensing something unsettling about the young man's confident smile.
"Aw, how could you have forgotten about me, Jiji?" the teenager mocked as he pulled back his hood, revealing his identity. The Third Hokage's eyes widened in shock, and the two Konoha Anbu instinctively drew their tantos. Simultaneously, the Fire Daimyo's Anbu formed a defensive perimeter with shadow clones, their blades poised threateningly.
The teenager was Naruto Uzumaki, who now looked healthier, his face slightly more angular, his ocean-blue eyes having deepened to an icy blue that reminded the Third Hokage uncomfortably of Minato.
"What? Fox caught your tongue?" Naruto quipped, snapping the Hokage out of his stupor.
"How? And you are in trouble for deserting Konoha—" the Third Hokage began to reprimand, but he was cut off as Naruto flicked another scroll at him. Catching it reflexively, the Third Hokage listened as Naruto continued, "You should be careful, Lord Third, because Konoha and you are so close to getting cut off by the Fire Daimyo. It looks like he wasn't happy about finding out that you lied to him about my heritage and kept the secret about my mother and father."
Naruto wagged his index finger, admonishing the Hokage as if he were scolding a child. The Third Hokage froze, the mention of Naruto's parents chilling him to the core as he processed the implications of the Daimyo's displeasure and Naruto's bold accusations. "What are you talking about, Naruto? You are an orphan and don't have anything like that," the Third Hokage tried to assert, attempting to maintain his composure in the face of mounting accusations.
Naruto's laugh echoed mockingly around the room, his tone dripping with scorn. "Really? Because when he saw me, he told me I looked just like my father. You know, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. And my mother, Kushina Uzumaki, the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Or did you forget it was you who officiated my parents' wedding and knew they gave birth to me?" Naruto retorted, standing defiantly behind the picture frame of his father.
"You can continue lying, but you're in serious trouble with the Daimyo. He was moments from ordering your execution in front of the whole village when he found out how you've treated me," Naruto added, watching the Third Hokage's face drain of color.
Naruto yanked out a large folder labeled "Records of Uzumaki Naruto," flipping it open with a deliberate snap. The papers rustled ominously as he revealed their contents. "You should've seen his face when he learned how the other clans nearly wiped out the Uzumaki heir and the son of the Fourth Hokage. But you're lucky to still be breathing because I fucking told him to spare you," Naruto declared, his piercing gaze locking onto the Third Hokage.
"Why? Because I treated you like a grandson?" the Third Hokage retorted with bitter mockery, his voice dripping with disdain.
Naruto's laugh was cold, a harsh sound that filled the room. He stepped closer, coming eye-to-eye with the older man. "No, because it's going to be so much sweeter watching your face when I crush those spoiled Genin who were my classmates and take back every damn scroll and inch of my parents' compound. Oh, and by the way, you are hereby commanded by the Fire Daimyo to hand over all the Fuinjutsu scrolls from the Uzumaki clan that you've stashed away in that secret room behind the bookshelves," he stated, his grin as sharp and dangerous as a blade.
"You damn demon, how dare you fucking order Hokage-sama around?" the masked Anbu with spiky brown hair exploded, his voice filled with aggression.
Naruto's smirk widened, almost predatory. "It's because the Daimyo ordered it. Or are you dense enough to think you can overrule the Fire Daimyo's decision? Because I'm pretty sure that'd fuck things up for you with his Anbu standing right there," Naruto taunted, his eyes gleaming as he glanced at the tiger mask Anbu.
After a suffocating silence, the Third Hokage slammed the scroll down on his desk, his face a mask of fury. "As well as you accusing me of betraying Konoha, you'll be fucking astonished to learn that the Fire Daimyo has Yamanaka operatives in his court. They showed him everything — how that damned Uchiha backstabbed me after I saved his sorry ass from getting wiped out. Oh, and by the way, Kakashi Hatake was demoted back to Chunin on the Daimyo's order. I bet that's what really got under your skin," Naruto taunted, his laughter cold as the Third Hokage's eyes blazed with anger.
The atmosphere in the Third Hokage's office was electric, the usual calm of governance replaced by a heavy tension that seemed to press against the walls. A breeze whispered through the window, rustling papers in a ghostly caress that contrasted starkly with the frozen standoff inside.
"Wait! You can't be serious, tell us that's a lie, Hokage-sama. Kakashi-senpai couldn't possibly be demoted," the tiger mask Anbu blurted out, his voice tinged with desperation and disbelief.
The Third Hokage, his expression twisted in disdain and not bothering to mask his contempt, kept his fiery gaze locked on Naruto. "Hawk, get me Kakashi Hatake, and tell him if he's late I'll kick his ass myself," he growled, his voice seething. An Anbu vanished in an instant, a swirl of leaves marking his departure.
In the ensuing silence, Naruto's grin widened maliciously, savoring the visible struggle on the Third Hokage's face as he fought to contain his rage, his hands white-knuckled and trembling, threatening to splinter the wood of his desk.
"I should have just killed you that day," the Third Hokage growled under his breath, his voice thick with venom.
Naruto's laugh cut through the tension, cold and scornful. "Aw, I see you're still bitter about your wife," he sneered, goading the elder with a ruthless jab at his most painful memories.
Fury flashed across the Third Hokage's face, his hand twitching towards the weapon at his side. But before he could act, the sun-blonde haired Anbu intervened, his katana swiftly positioned at the Hokage's throat. "I'd think twice if I were you. The Daimyo has granted me the authority to execute anyone who dares raise a hand against the Fourth Hokage's son. Plus, you started the argument," the Anbu from the Fire Daimyo warned, his stance unyielding.
The Third Hokage sank back into his chair, frustration etched deeply into his features, as the sun-blonde Anbu disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Moments later, Kakashi materialized with a casual puff of smoke, his demeanor starkly contrasted with the charged atmosphere. He was flipping through an orange book, his attention more on the pages than the palpable tension.
"How can I help you, Lord Third? I was in the middle of a session with Lord Uchiha-sama," Kakashi remarked nonchalantly, his laid-back tone a jarring dissonance to the high stakes drama that had just unfolded.
"Damn, I knew you were fucked up, Kakashi-sensei, but you're starting to sound like you like little kids," Naruto taunted, waving dismissively at Kakashi, who looked momentarily taken aback by the jibe.
"How—" Kakashi began, his response cut short as the red-haired female Anbu stepped in, her blade dangerously positioned between his legs. "Move, and your little Kakashi will be history, along with the rest of you. You're in deep shit for your attempt on the Fourth Hokage's son," she mocked, her voice laced with venom.
"Kakashi, she's not bullshitting. Looks like the kid survived, and now the Daimyo has us by the balls. Make one wrong move, and they have orders to execute you," the Third Hokage interjected, his tone laden with reluctant acceptance.
Kakashi shot Naruto a furious glare, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "You can't believe this demon. I am his only son," he hissed, his voice bitter and filled with contempt.
Naruto shook his index finger, tsk-tsking at Kakashi. "You could keep lying to yourself, Kakashi, but deep down you know you aren't. Don't you remember who your father was? The disgrace… no, I think it is… oh yeah, the White Fang," Naruto shot back, his words saturated with scorn, each syllable designed to cut to the bone.
Kakashi's response was a deathly stare, his eyes burning with pure loathing. The air in the room thickened with tension, almost crackling, as the stakes continued to escalate.
"Please, Lord Namikaze, don't mock the newly demoted Chunin. It seems he has strayed far from his sensei's teachings. I am pretty sure your father would be very disappointed in his last remaining student," remarked the Fire Daimyo's Anbu with sun-blonde hair, his voice calm but cutting.
"How would you know? I've done everything to pay back this demon for killing my sensei. It's his fault that Rin and Obito died. And I guess you are so blind since I am a Jonin and the strongest they have," Kakashi retorted, his voice laced with sarcasm and bitterness.
"Then I guess after Lord Fourth's death, everyone from your generation's skills went downhill. Plus, you are a Chunin now. You should remain quiet for a moment so your Hokage can tell you why you are here," the sun-blonde haired Anbu shot back sharply.
Kakashi turned to the Third Hokage, who was glaring at the smirking Naruto. "Kakashi Hatake, for the multiple attempts to kill the heir of the Uzumaki clan and the son of a Hokage, you are hereby demoted to Chunin and your team will be reassigned to another Jonin on standby. Please hand over your Jonin vest," the Third Hokage declared, his voice firm, never breaking eye contact with Naruto, who seemed to relish the moment.
"You can't be serious, Hokage-sama! That damned demon isn't Sensei's child. I am his single and only child. If he wasn't born, it would have just been Sensei, Kushina-chan, and I. I am his only and single son," Kakashi protested, his voice cracking under the weight of his disbelief. His eyes, usually calm and collected, now shimmered with a mix of frustration and betrayal.
The Third Hokage presented a paper confirming Naruto's DNA as matching Minato and Kushina's. "It's an order from the Daimyo-sama," he stated, his voice weary as he longed for a respite from the day's stresses.
Kakashi, visibly shaken, reluctantly removed his Jonin vest and placed it on the Hokage's desk. "Who will take my team now?" he asked, his concern for his students evident despite his own turmoil.
"I will be assigning a new Jonin," the Third Hokage replied succinctly. Kakashi collected the Chunin vest, his expression hardening.
"Sorry, Chunin-san. But I prefer females, and I don't swing that way, unlike you. I'm pretty sure Sasuke-chan will be your love partner," Naruto quipped mockingly, causing Kakashi to shake with anger as he walked away, shooting a final glare at the two Fire Daimyo's Anbu guards before leaving the room.
"Well, I really hope to get those scrolls, Lord Third. And if you try something fishy, remember both guards here are Seal masters who know which ones are real or not," Naruto stated, his tone both warning and confident.
"Cat and Tiger, stand down," the Third Hokage ordered, sounding defeated. The two Anbu, still poised for a possible conflict, hesitate and didn't stopped aimming there blades.
"You should really learn how to take orders, Tiger and Cat. Because you two are outskilled in every possible way," the red-haired woman said sharply.
"I said stand down!" the Third Hokage reiterated more forcefully. Making both his Anbu stopped and stepping away. The third was already wishing to drink himself silly since he knew the council meeting was going to be a pain in his old ass.
Naruto, having just secured all the Uzumaki fuinjutsu scrolls, initiated a sealing technique. "Seal," he stated succinctly, and with a puff of smoke, the scrolls were absorbed into a smaller scroll that he then secured onto his wrist storage seal.
"Well, it was a pleasure doing business with you, Lord Third. I will be at my family compound," Naruto said, offering a casual wave to the Third Hokage, who responded only with a tired puff from his smoke pipe and a weary gaze.
As Naruto and the two Fire Daimyo Anbu guards exited, the Third Hokage's frustration boiled over. "God damn it!" he shouted, his fist slamming down on the desk, causing it to shudder under the force.
A knock at the door interrupted his brooding. "What do you want!" he barked, already dreading the additional headache he knew was coming.
The door swung open to reveal three elderly figures, peers to the Third Hokage, each carrying their own aura of authority and urgency. "So it seems like the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails is still alive. Guess we should start gathering the mobs to attack the brat," suggested Homura, adjusting his glasses with a calculated push.
"It's time to make that brat into the weapon he should have been from the start. Just hand him to Danzo," Koharu chimed in, her voice cold and resolute.
"Just let me take care of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I will break him into the perfect weapon he should have been from the start, Hiruzen," Danzo proposed confidently.
"Good luck with that, Danzo. That brat is protected by the Fire Daimyo, and if anyone tries anything against him, they will be killed by his Anbu guards that brought him here," the Third Hokage replied, his tone laced with a mix of sarcasm and frustration.
The conversation turned more heated as they discussed the implications of Naruto having the Uzumaki scrolls. "No matter what that paper says, that brat isn't the Fourth Hokage's son. He's just a bastard child with that red hair islander," Koharu scoffed dismissively.
"So what's the plan? We can't allow him to leave the village with the property of the Fourth Hokage and the Uzumaki clan. Those belong to Konoha and no one else," Homura added, looking for a way to retain what they deemed rightfully theirs.
"So he's taking the Chunin exam, right?" Danzo asked, to which the Third Hokage nodded. "I could always send multiple teams from my Root to capture him and we could place a seal on him like before," Danzo suggested.
"You are forgetting about his guards; they will inform the Daimyo if that happens," the Third Hokage reminded his old rival.
"Easy, in the second part of the exam, it's the Forest of Death and they aren't allowed to enter to protect him. I will place teams of my Anbu and capture him. If they say anything, we could just say he died by a team. Simple as that," Danzo plotted confidently.
"I know I should say no, but I guess we'll follow your plan, Danzo… but what if he passes to the next round, huh?" the Third Hokage conceded, though a part of him sensed that Naruto had grown stronger, not just in skill but in demeanor as well.
"Easy, the other Genin can pick him out when fighting. I don't think he's gotten that much stronger in just three months. You know it would take years to fix all the sabotage from all the years," Danzo smirked, well aware that it was his doing that the Chunin had sabotaged Naruto at every step.
"Alright, let's go ahead with that plan," the Third Hokage agreed, albeit reluctantly, signaling a dangerous path ahead as the conspirators left the room to set their plans in motion.
Next day,
The Namikaze compound was serene, a stark contrast to the underlying tension that simmered just beneath its surface. The sprawling three-story mansion, adorned with the large emblem of the Uzumaki clan and a three-point kunai, stood majestic and aloof, much like its current occupants. The garden path, beautifully manicured, led to a metal gate marked with a swirl at its center, symbolizing both the family's heritage and their tightly sealed world.
"So, has anyone dumb tried to break into the compound, Dad?" Naruto asked, his tone casual but curious. He lounged opposite Minato, who was engrossed in reviewing some documents while seated comfortably on the couch.
"Yeah, it looks like Kakashi tried, and my old pervert sensei is back in Konoha and has tried to enter," Minato chuckled, amusement clear in his voice as he recounted the attempts thwarted by the new seal barrier Kushina had meticulously placed.
"Oh, so that scream that sounded a lot like a little girl was from the old toad fart?" Naruto mused, recalling a recent shock of electricity followed by a high-pitched scream that had echoed around the compound.
"Yep, it looks like he tried to break in a few times now, and I'm betting he's waiting for you to step out so he could speak to you. Most likely he's going to try to bring you in with tales about us," Minato surmised, understanding all too well how his sensei operated.
"He can try, it's not like I would listen to him," Naruto dismissed, confident in the bond he now shared with his parents, something Jiraiya could no longer offer him.
"Well, I think we should be getting you to the Konoha Academy. That's where the first test is at," Minato said as he donned his white blank mask adorned with the fire kanji on the forehead.
"Yeah! I want to see how many glares we are getting now. I want to see if they will try anything," Kushina added, her voice tinged with a fierce protectiveness. She too was ready, her mask similar to Minato's firmly in place.
Together, they walked through the garden, approaching the metal gate. Naruto touched it, and it glowed green, swinging open to grant them exit. As they stepped out, Kushina activated the seal, and a purple glow enveloped the closing gate, securing the compound once more.
"You have about half an hour, Lord Namikaze-sama," Kushina said, her tone professional yet layered with a touch of mockery, baiting for any eavesdroppers or hidden watchers.
In a puff of smoke, a figure appeared with an idiotic smile plastered across his face. It was Jiraiya of the Sannin, standing calmly with his arms crossed over his chest, seemingly unaffected by the guarded welcome.
Jiraiya's arrival did not surprise them; it was anticipated, yet his casual demeanor suggested he might underestimate the resolve and readiness of the family he once knew well. The stage was set for a confrontation, not just of powers but of past loyalties and betrayals, right at the doorstep of a home that no longer welcomed him.
The walls of the compound were high and imposing, draped with the vibrant colors of the Uzumaki crest, signaling the fortitude and separation from the village it once loyally served.
"Yo, kiddo, look at you now. You look just like your father," Jiraiya remarked, attempting a friendly overture while his eyes briefly shifted towards the female Anbu fiery-haired whom he had no idea it was Kushina.
"Sorry, but I already have a vacuum cleaner, sir. But I'm pretty sure the Hyuga clan needs it to take those big sticks out of their asses if you need help," Naruto retorted sharply, a barb aimed not just at Jiraiya but also hinting at the unwanted attention from various Konoha clans, especially the Hyugas, who had been unsuccessfully trying to peer into the Uzumaki domain.
Jiraiya's expression soured slightly, recognizing the sharpness of Naruto's tongue as a trait inherited from Kushina. "So you have the same tongue like your mother," he noted, his voice tinged with a mix of amusement and caution, aware of Kushina's notorious reputation for dealing decisively with those she disliked.
"You know, I had to get something from my mother. I actually like that I have a similar personality as hers," Naruto responded, walking past Jiraiya without stopping, dismissing the legendary Sannin as one might an irrelevant stranger.
"Hey! Wait up, kid. Do you know who I am?" Jiraiya called after him, trying to invoke his status as a Sannin to garner some respect or awe.
"Sorry, you don't seem to ring a bell. If you are looking for little kids that will get into your home for candy, I heard the Uchiha would do that. Since I heard he's into guys," Naruto shot back, his words sharp and dismissive. Beside him, Kushina struggled to contain her laughter, amused by her son's audacity to suggest Jiraiya appeared predatory. Minato, meanwhile, coughed to suppress his own laughter, recalling the old rumors that once circled about Orochimaru, another of the Sannin, known for his own questionable inclinations.
Jiraiya stood there, taken aback by the bluntness and the clear disdain. The once revered figure, accustomed to respect and fear, found himself rebuffed by the legacy of his former pupil and his fiery wife.
"Oi! Brat. Looks like no one taught you to respect your betters huh?," Jiraiya taunted, attempting to provoke Naruto, hoping to elicit an aggressive response that would justify his view of the boy as nothing more than a weapon.
"Sorry, I don't respect those who don't deserve any respect. Plus, you're 12 years too late to try to make any connection, you perverted toad," Naruto retorted sharply, dismissing Jiraiya's attempt to bond. He turned away, walking alongside the two Anbu clad in the masks of the Fire Daimyo, unknown to Jiraiya as his parents, Kushina and Minato.
"Your father and mother would be very disappointed at how you turned out," Jiraiya called after him, a last-ditch effort to guilt him into submission.
"That's funny coming from you, Lord Jiraiya. I'm pretty sure Lord Fourth would be more disappointed in his sensei who promised him that Naruto would be his godson. I'm pretty sure he's more disappointed in Konoha for failing to protect his child. But I guess the true mask of people comes out like this," Minato responded coldly from behind his masked facade, his voice betraying no emotion that would reveal his identity.
"Plus, you shouldn't get ahead of yourself, Lord Jiraiya. I'm sure your student and his wife would be ready to punish you once you die. Since you are closer to the Shinigami's footsteps from your old age"
Kushina's eyes narrowed slightly as she caught Jiraiya's unguarded gaze drifting inappropriately towards her figure. A trickle of blood emerging from his nose betrayed his lecherous thoughts, but Kushina, undeterred and defiant, was quick to seize the moment to assert her dominance. "You could look as much as you want since I heard it gets hard to bring it up in your age," she taunted, her voice dripping with sarcasm and a biting mockery that was impossible to miss.
Naruto, standing beside her, couldn't hold back a snort of laughter, the sound sharp in the tense air. His amusement was a clear indication of his stance—unyielding and unapologetic."Why you!" Jiraiya growled, his frustration peaking as he glared at them, knowing better than to start a fight he couldn't politically afford to escalate.
He was unaware that both Kushina and Minato, hidden behind their masks, were not only capable of defending themselves but were also prepared to fiercely protect their son. Jiraiya, too wrapped up in his own status and past glories, hadn't considered that the famed Sannin might no longer command the fear or respect he once did.
"You can go back to your sensei, old pervert. You aren't going to make me join you in anything. I will never rejoin Konoha. Once I win the Chunin exam, you'll all be pleased to know I will leave with all my parents' property and never come back," Naruto declared confidently as he, Kushina, and Minato disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
"Damn, guess Sensei wasn't wrong about having a plan with the mummy. It's only a matter of time before you learn your place, Naruto. You are just a weapon meant to keep Konoha's enemies at bay," Jiraiya muttered to himself, resigned yet plotting, as he too vanished with a Shunshin.
Unbeknownst to them, a pair of keen eyes had witnessed the entire exchange. This observer also disappeared without a trace, leaving no sign that anyone had been there, especially unnoticed by the Hyuga clan members tasked with surveillance.
Naruto arrived at the bustling front gate of the Konoha Academy, where a flurry of activity buzzed as multiple Genin teams from Konoha and other villages streamed inside. Kushina and Minato, clad in nondescript attire to blend in with the other Jonin, leaned close. "See you later. We both know you've got this," they whispered supportively before vanishing into the waiting room reserved for other Jonin sensei.
Well, I might as well get this over with. Can't wait to see my old teammates, Naruto thought with a mix of sarcasm and anticipation. He was fully aware that the other Genin and sensei knew of his supposed demise and would be shocked to see him partake in the Chunin exams. Prepared for mockery and potential aggression, Naruto was determined to stand his ground if challenged.
As he walked through the academy's entrance, the stares of disdain from various Chunin sensei, including Kakashi, felt almost palpable. Naruto responded with a bright, mocking smile, waving cheekily at his former sensei, now demoted to a Chunin role—a punishment Naruto found fitting given Kakashi's notorious aversion to paperwork and his lackadaisical approach to teaching.
Navigating his way to the second floor, Naruto bypassed a crowd of Genin blocking a room labeled '3A'. Two Chunin, disguised as Genin, guarded the entrance. With a shake of his head, Naruto recognized the setup—a simple Genjutsu.
He smirked and walked by everyone one who was standing at front of the Genjutsu door and saw the two disguised Chunin blocking the way. He got close to them and he give them a mocking smirked. Telling them that this trick was so stupid.
"Hey! You with the weird-looking face!" one of the disguised Chunin shouted, attempting to provoke him.
"Weird face? You should really not be taunting someone else for their looks since you have a fucked up nose and a fucked up chin, dude," Naruto retorted without missing a beat, continuing on his way.
"Cool it, Kotetsu. That demon will get what he deserves later in the test. He's only one person as a team," Izumo intervened, trying to calm his teammate.
Turning a corner, Naruto overheard Sasuke's derisive voice from a nearby room, "I can't believe anyone is falling for the Genjutsu. You losers do realize you are on the second floor, right?" Sasuke stood with his perpetual fangirl, Sakura, and their third team member—a pale boy with black hair, whose smile seemed too forced, looks very fake.
Catching sight of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura's expressions shifted from smugness to shock. "Looks like you aren't as skilled at killing as your brother, Sasuke. Maybe you should take lessons from him," Naruto quipped, walking away just in time to hear Sasuke's enraged shout,"Get your ass back here, you fucking loser!" Sasuke tried to chase after him, but the crowded hallway slowed his progress significantly.
Ignoring the commotion, Naruto proceeded up the stairs toward the indoor fighting area, sensing Sakura, Sasuke, and there last teammate member who is most likely a member of Danzo Root Anbu member. Naruto knows who Danzo is because of his parents.Naruto wheeled around, his reflexes sharp as he caught two kunai hurtling towards his head. With a deft spin, he twirled the blades in his fingers mockingly. "What does Sasuke-chan want with little old me?" he taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he faced Sasuke, whose Sharingan flickered menacingly—one eye showing a single tomoe, the other two.
"It looks like that demon in you kept you alive, but I'm going to finish you off once and for all," Sasuke growled, his hands swiftly forming seals.
Really? A fire jutsu indoors?* Naruto thought, unimpressed, as he casually drew a scroll from his jacket. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke bellowed, unleashing a massive fireball towards him.
"Look at the loser, he's so scared he's not going to do anything," Sakura jeered from the sidelines, while Sai, observing quietly, seemed to grasp why Naruto remained so calm.
As the fireball closed the distance, Naruto held the scroll up confidently, forming the ram seal. *Fire Sealing Method* he thought, focusing intently. In a flash, the roaring fireball was absorbed into the scroll, disappearing without a trace. Sasuke and Sakura's faces registered utter shock.
"That's it? Because I don't have time to waste on your sorry ass," Naruto scoffed, turning to walk away, which jolted Sakura and Sasuke out of their stupor.
"Don't you dare turn your back on me, you demon fox!" Sasuke shouted, surging forward with enhanced speed, chakra coursing through his muscles.
But Naruto had vanished from their sight, only to reappear casually behind Sakura and Sai. "You guys are really slow," he remarked nonchalantly, leaning against the wall, looking utterly bored.
"Naruto-baka! What do you think you are doing behind us! Fight Sasuke-kun, fight him like a man!" Sakura screamed, her voice piercing.
"Wow, I feel bad for whoever ends up marrying you, because they're going to be deaf whenever you fight with that poor bastard," Naruto quipped, covering his ears. Just then, Sakara swung a punch at him. Naruto smirked seeing the punch getting closer and closer but to him it looked like it was coming in slow motion. He made a hand seal and a puff of smoke covered him. Standing at Naruto spot was Sasuke who reacted too late and got punch in the jaw. He was send rolling due to the hit.
Naruto watched, a smirk playing on his lips, as the dynamics of his former teammates unfolded chaotically. "Well, I'll be off then. I guess you wasted your time these last three months," Naruto quipped as he turned to leave for the room where the test was taking place.
Upon arrival, he found Kushina and Minato waiting for him alongside another Jonin who regarded him with a puzzled expression. The man had short brown hair and black, almond-shaped eyes. His standard Jonin outfit lacked the Uzushiogakure crest typically seen on the shoulders and neck of his navy-blue shirt, which was form-fitting and extended up to his chin. He also wore two hip pouches strapped to his lower back and sported a headband that framed his face.
"You took a while, Lord Namikaze," Kushina commented, a hint of teasing in her tone.
"Sorry, sensei. I kinda got held up dealing with the spoiled Uchiha. He saw me and tried to roast me with a fire Jutsu, but I think I shocked him with a simple fire-sealing trick. Poor Sasuke-chan even got punched by his number-one fangirl," Naruto recounted, earning a disapproving look from the Konoha Jonin.
"Well, we'll see you later," Minato said, and both he and Kushina waited for Naruto to enter the testing room before they vanished, leaving the Jonin behind to await the arrival of Team Seven.
As Naruto entered the room, the weight of the coming tests on his shoulders felt lighter, bolstered by the brief encounter with his former teammates and the assurance of his parents' support.
The moment Naruto stepped into the room, he was bombarded with killer intent, which he easily shrugged off. *Zabuza's ki was stronger than this, and both Mom and Dad blasted me with their ki so I wouldn't freeze up to nearly any amount* he mused as he walked to a corner to relax while waiting for the test to start.
Naruto felt multiple eyes on him and looked up to see glares from both Konoha ninjas and Iwagakure Genin. *Looks like the news was sent to those teams from Iwagakure* he thought, his observation interrupted when Sasuke's team entered. Sakura was fussing over Sasuke, checking the bruise on his jaw where she had punched him.
Naruto smirked as Sasuke caught his eye again, met with another glare before Sasuke walked away towards the other rookie nine teams.
Naruto sat back, tuning out the surrounding stares until he overheard an older teen with silver hair and glasses talking with other teams. The teen, Kabuto, was disseminating information about the Genin teams including Team Seven, Team Eight, and Team Ten. Naruto listened in, already suspicious of Kabuto's extensive knowledge of the participants, especially Gaara—who he guessed was also a Jinchuriki. It was unlikely Kabuto could have such detailed information without having spied on them, and this being Gaara's team's first Chunin Exam only added to his suspicions.
Naruto decided to dismiss the spy's presence since he was not a Konoha ninja, and if Kabuto intended to screw over Konoha, Naruto had no interest in intervening—he no longer cared about the village's fate.
That was until Shikamaru, with a cautious look in his sharp black eyes, asked Kabuto, "Do you have any information on Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze?" His query caused the other Genin to whip their heads around, their eyes wide with surprise as they finally noticed Naruto's presence in the room.
Caught slightly off-guard by the sudden attention but maintaining his cool, Naruto just leaned against the wall, an amused yet detached expression on his face, ready to hear how Kabuto would respond and how much he truly knew.
As Kabuto recited Naruto's detailed history, the room fell silent, every pair of eyes fixed on him. "Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, son of the renowned Kushina Uzumaki, also known as the 'Red Death' due to her formidable kill count during the Third Shinobi War, and previous head of the Uzumaki clan—a clan from a nearby island, which was obliterated by three of the five great nations at the onset of the shinobi war. His father is none other than the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, the 'Yellow Flash.' Officially, he was presumed dead after a C-rank mission escalated to A-rank. Contrary to popular belief, Sasuke Uchiha did not kill him; rather, he was saved by the tailed beast within him. He is the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails that nearly destroyed Konoha 12 years ago. Known as the dead last of your class, he has completed 50 D-rank missions and two C-rank missions with Team Seven. Recent records, since his association with the fire daimyo, show he has completed five B-rank missions and three A-rank missions, securing multiple alliances for the fire daimyo due to his role in saving and protecting important individuals from the countries he aided," Kabuto said, his voice resonating in the suddenly tense atmosphere.
Sasuke's face twisted with jealousy. *I should be the one forming those alliances, with my elite Uchiha power* he thought bitterly, mentally cursing Naruto.
Kiba scoffed loudly, breaking the silence. "Hahaha, you must've screwed up your info, Kabuto-san. That fox demon is nothing more than a dead last, a total loser without any real skill."
"Yeah, there's no way the bastard son of the Fourth Hokage is better than a Hyuga main branch member," Hinata added, her voice laced with disdain.
Naruto responded by flicking her off and blowing a mocking kiss her way, which visibly took her aback—such behavior was new from him, who usually played the fool.
"Wow, princess, you're blushing like a fangirl," Naruto taunted, laughing as Hinata's glare intensified, breaking her usual composed Hyuga demeanor.
Chaos erupted in the room when a Sound Village team, angered by Kabuto's previous mocking remarks, launched an attack on him. The leader of the team, a shinobi named Dosu, unleashed a sound-based attack, catching Kabuto off-guard and causing him to reel from the invisible blow. Naruto, observing quietly, murmured to himself, "He was hit with a sound attack," noting the specialized equipment embedded in Dosu's gear.
Just as tensions peaked, the proctor of the exam, Ibiki Morino, accompanied by several Chunin, stormed in. His commanding voice cut through the noise: "Enough! Line up and take your assigned seats for the written test." Naruto stifled a chuckle as he found himself seated next to Hinata, who shot him a venomous look.
"Don't even think about copying from me, you damn demon," she hissed.
"As if I'd want your answers, pervert," Naruto retorted with a smirk, enjoying the shock and anger flashing across her face.
"What did you just call me?" Hinata growled.
"A pervert," Naruto repeated, nodding towards her eyes. "With those things, you're basically a closet pervert, peeking through stuff," he joked, provoking Hinata further, who was now seething but restrained by the exam rules from attacking him.
"Begin!" Ibiki shouted, signaling the start of the exam. Everyone turned to their papers, including Naruto, who scanned the questions and judged them challenging. After about ten minutes, feeling Ibiki's gaze on him, Naruto stood up, drawing the attention of the room. He casually walked to the row behind him, swapped his blank paper with a Genin who had completed his test, erased the name, and wrote his own.
Before Ibiki could react, Naruto confidently declared, "Well, I'm done. That's two points for cheating, right?" His nonchalant demeanor left the room in stunned silence.
Ibiki, caught off guard yet bound by the rules, grumbled, "If anyone else tries that, they'll be thrown out immediately!" This sparked a chorus of curses and glares directed at Naruto, who, unfazed, returned to his seat and settled down for a quick nap, seemingly at peace amid the brewing storm of resentment and admiration for his audacious move. As Naruto sat, minding his business during the exam, he suddenly found himself inexplicably moving against his will. His instincts kicked in, and he swiftly channeled chakra around his body to disrupt the Shadow Possession Jutsu binding him. Glancing around, he caught Shikamaru's frustrated glare. Naruto rubbed his chin thoughtfully and then noticed something peculiar overhead.
Looking up, he smirked upon spotting mirrors connected by ninja wires, cleverly positioned to reflect the test answers. He quickly flicked a senbon needle at the room's single light bulb, directing everyone's attention upwards. The room gasped as the mirrors, rigged with multiple kunai, came into view, clearly rigged to cheat. The setup seemed to be the work of a Genin from Team Nine, who was now desperately trying not to look guilty.
'Thanks for the unintentional assist, Shikamaru,' Naruto thought wryly, appreciating the irony that his rival's attempt to control him had instead revealed another cheat. Just then, he noticed Ino forming hand seals aimed in his direction. He casually dropped his pencil, and as he bent to pick it up, he heard the thud of heads hitting desks—a clear sign of another jutsu in play.
Ibiki, ever observant, caught the action and immediately pinpointed Ino. "You, girl with the platinum blonde hair, that's two points off," he announced sternly. A muffled "Troublesome" from Shikamaru elicited a silent chuckle from Naruto, enjoying the unraveling chaos.
Later
Naruto was the first to arrive at Training Ground 44, surprising even Anko Mitarashi, the proctor, who hadn't expected anyone to beat her there. He watched nonchalantly as she digested his premature arrival, then shrugged it off and started munching on some dango.
He realized something, that person wasn't Anko due to the person trying to act like her. Due to his better nose, he could tell since the person who is disguise smelled like a male and dog.
As the rest of the Genin straggled in, Anko called for everyone's attention. Standing with a formidable presence, she barked, "Oi! Listen up—this is the only time I'll go over this, so ears open," capturing the full attention of every participant with her commanding tone.