Author's note: Apologies, an error in my upload led me to post this again. There is one new chapter.
The scorching Konohan sun hung high above Naruto's head. He stood in the Academy training yard with his peers, all of them sweating in the sweltering summer heat. Naruto wiped his brow as sweat beaded and dripped down his tan skin.
The Land of Fire tended to get more sun than most parts of the world, making it quite hot in the summer. The village was miserable in the winter. Not because of cold or snow, but because of the seemingly endless rain that fed the old growth trees for another year. The amount of heat and dry air in the summer led to a multitude of sometimes destructive fires throughout the country, which lent itself to be aptly named, the Land of Fire.
The Academy class was split into three groups for sparring practice. Instructors had told them all year that this was not the time to hold back. Preparing students for the life and death fighting of the ninja world was of paramount importance. Thus, making sure you were going all out was necessary. Instructors, being adults of at least chunin rank and ability, had the discretion to step in and stop a fight, should a student's life be in peril. For Naruto, it was a good way to test himself.
Each student was paired with a sparring partner that they would engage with for a period of two weeks at a time. After two weeks, sparring partners were rearranged to give students a wide variety of experience in facing different combatants. In this period, Naruto was paired with Inuzuka Kiba, one of the stronger taijutsu combatants in their class.
Kiba was of average height for their age. Despite this, he possessed great natural strength and he was usually able to easily best nearly everyone aside from Choji in feats of power. Now that their class was the oldest in the Academy, Kiba could claim that he was among the strongest taijutsu combatants in the class. Sasuke and Choji would be his only competition in that regard. Kiba would be a good classmate to test himself against.
As Iruka-sensei droned through the instructions and rules of their spars, Naruto noticed a monkey watching curiously from the shadows of the trees lining the training grounds. Naruto quirked his head to the side, curious despite himself. It wasn't unusual to see monkeys milling about in the trees. However, it was more likely to see them beyond Konoha's large walls. This one, a small monkey with brown fur, appeared to be looking directly at him.
He would have watched the monkey longer, but his focus was pulled away when he noticed Kiba. His sparring partner eyed him from across the group. Naruto could see his exaggerated, pointed incisors in his toothy smile. The strange monkey was quickly forgotten as Naruto instead remembered his own words from the other day. I'll kick your ass.
Naruto understood the tacit implication in Kiba's smile. If you don't bring all you've got, I'll wipe the floor with you. He could almost hear Kiba say it. He grit his teeth. There was no way Naruto was going to let that happen.
Naruto noticed his body tensing in anticipation as Iruka called the first sparring pair to approach their starting positions. Hinata and Choji were first. Naruto could feel his chakra whizzing about in his body. He was psyching himself out over this fight and over Kiba, of all people. He could not afford to let Kiba control the tone of the fight. Naruto rolled his neck and tried to relax. He inhaled deeply and slowly while Hinata and Choji approached their starting position.
Since there was no chakra or techniques allowed in Academy spars until the graduation test, Hinata would be at a disadvantage. Normally, she was one of the better taijutsu practitioners due to the Gentle Fist style of the famed Hyuuga clan, but Choji's brute strength might tip the scales in his favor.
Naruto focused on Hinata and Choji as they fought. Hinata was considerably smaller than Choji. At first glance, it might seem like Choji would control the fight. He pressured Hinata with an aggressive approach. Choji tried to get a clear hit on Hinata in an effort to end the fight quickly. Hinata was nimble, though. For every blow that Choji attempted, Hinata had an answer. The blows she could not dodge, she parried.
Naruto could see her strategy in motion. Hinata was conserving her energy, letting the much larger boy use all his strength in his seemingly futile efforts to pin or knock her around. Choji was no slouch in taijutsu, but the Hyuuga clan were known for taijutsu for a reason. The spar stretched well past the average length. Once Choji appeared ready to practically keel over Hinata maneuvered behind Choji in a surprising burst of speed and delivered a clean strike with two outstretched fingers just under his lower ribs. He yelped as he sprawled to the ground, his chest heaving with exhaustion. He groaned in pain as he struggled to regain his footing.
"Winner," Iruka-sensei said, "Hinata!"
Hinata's cheeks turned red as Iruka-sensei praised her strategy and effort. A light sheen of sweat covered her pale skin.
Iruka jotted down notes on the match and whispered something Naruto could not hear to another instructor, a tall man with round black glasses and a blue bandana. The man nodded before Iruka rotated back to his group. He locked eyes with Naruto. This was it.
"Next up, Kiba and Naruto. Take your positions," Iruka said.
Naruto walked to the middle of the ring. His footsteps kicked up dust. He and Kiba shook with two fingers before taking several steps back.
Kiba still exhibited his toothy grin. He set Akamaru aside. The white furred pup yipped from the sidelines.
"You get a cheerleader," Naruto said, "no fair."
He acted with an exaggerated frown. For the first time, he could see Kiba's smile slip, a tick of annoyance flashing across his face.
"Just shut up and fight," Kiba said. Akumaru yipped angrily at Naruto from the sidelines.
Iruka stepped between the combatants. "On my word," he said, pausing to lock eyes with both students.
"Go!"
As soon as Iruka leapt out of the ring, Kiba charged him. Naruto was ready. He brought up his hands to block. Kiba's fist plowed into Naruto's defenses, forcing him to step back.
Kiba was strong and fast, relative to their peers, but what made him truly dangerous to fight was his willingness to exploit any opportunity he saw to obtain an advantage. There was no such thing as fighting dirty to ninja, but Kiba got pretty damn close to it when he fought comrades, as far as Naruto was concerned. Really, it just made him a good fighter. Naruto knew he had to be ready for anything.
Naruto parried Kiba's next blow by pushing his extended hand toward the direction of Kiba's momentum. Kiba nearly stumbled, but righted himself at the last second. He was able to block Naruto's incoming kick, aimed at his planted leg.
"Your kicks suck," Kiba said, laughing. "No strength behind 'em. Let me show you how you do it."
Kiba spun and sent a strong kick careening toward Naruto's head. Naruto got his arm up just in time to brace for impact. The kick rocked him. His vision went blurry as he tumbled to the ground. Before he could regain his composure, Kiba was raining punches down on him. From his position on the ground, Naruto did his best to block or dodge, but many of the punches found their mark. Pain shot through his abdomen as many of Kiba's attacks landed with devastating results. He did all he could to block his face, throat, and vital areas.
Naruto didn't have to look to hear the snickers of his classmates. He didn't have to look to see his instructors already discussing his match as if it was over. More than any punch, the way everyone looked at him made him sick. To think that the way people saw him was as a dead last, no good, loser. He couldn't tolerate it.
Finally, Naruto's leg found leverage. He pushed hard off the ground, bucking Kiba over his head. Kiba rolled head first across the ring.
By that point, Naruto was standing and charging. Before Kiba could fully recover, Naruto's fist shot out and burst through Kiba's hasty defense. He scored a blow directly to Kiba's nose. Blood sprayed from his nose as Naruto maintained his pressure. Naruto directed a flurry of punches at Kiba.
Both boys had all but abandoned any semblance of defense as they traded blows with each other. Blood clung to the knuckles of both fighters. Naruto's enclosed fist connected with Kiba's face as Kiba's fist lurched out and struck his shoulder. Both combatants flew away from each other.
Kiba wiped the blood from his face and flicked it to the ground. He was breathing hard. His chest moved up and down with each breath he took. Naruto wasn't doing much better. He couldn't breathe through his nose. He watched as drips of blood hit the dirt below.
Kiba spat out a mouthful of blood. "I'm going to show you where you belong," he said.
"Show me, then," Naruto retorted.
Kiba and Naruto charged at each other, fists raised. Kiba went low to the ground, as if going for a devastating blow. Naruto made a move to disrupt Kiba's balancing with a shove, but Kiba had only meant to feint. Kiba spun out from under Naruto faster than he thought the boy could move. Oh, I see, Naruto thought, aware of his unprotected blindside, but not in a position to do anything about it.
"You're not better than me!"
Kiba was behind him now and everything went dark.
A late summer breeze rolled in through the open round window in Hiruzen's library. He sat in his high backed chairs, his book abandoned on the stand next to him. He grasped the picture of Biwako loosely in his weathered hands. There were times when he wished that he had assigned another med-nin to be Kushina's midwife. If he had done so, Biwako would still be here to watch their children and grandchildren grow. Another mistake to pile on to his impressive collection. What appeared like a logical decision in the moment could morph into a catastrophe as easily as day changes to night. Biwako had delivered the boy that night, October 10th, and lost her life not twenty minutes later. In that way, she was tied to Naruto forever.
Assuming the position of Hokage as he had done, he wondered if he'd ever truly grieved for Biwako. In the weeks after that terrible day, he had visited Naruto when he was able to take time. Kushina's words were still fresh in his mind in those days. He tried, even for a few short minutes every day, but it proved to be unbearable. He thought back to those nights, standing in a dark room lit with moonlight. In his mind was a screaming child wailing for his mother without understanding.
Hiruzen shook his head and willed his mind to focus on something else. He set aside the photo of Biwako, instead turning his attention to his senses and to the world around him. He felt a breeze sneak in through the window. It tickled his goatee and hair as it gently meandered into the room. The scent of late summer blooms met his nose. He could hear the laughter of children in the distance. Hiruzen inhaled sharply through his nose and then he exhaled, slowly releasing the breath through his mouth. For all his mistakes, this beautiful place still stood. The dream of his mentors still persisted well after their death.
Hiruzen hoisted himself from his chair and stretched. He sensed his bones creak and his muscles strain. It was truly cruel that the body broke down to such a degree as it aged. Especially when his mind and chakra system were still so vibrant and full of life.
He sluggishly made his way over to the oak side table that contained his pipe and tobacco leaves. They were imported from the north of the Land of Fire, where the conditions were more adapted to growing the plant. Konoha was simply not humid enough to effectively grow the crop. He packed his pipe carefully and with intention by gently pushing the crushed leaves into the chamber. He used a simple fire jutsu to light and puffed lightly, tasting the flavors of this particular blend.
A rapping at the upper windows of his library altered him to his summons return. He glanced up in annoyance. "The window is open, Haru," he said.
A smallish monkey with brown fur pushed open the window and ambled along the beams above his library. Haru wrapped his tail around a beam before he swung down, landing gently and silently in front of Hiruzen. His hands jolted forward. "Fruit," he said.
Hiruzen retrieved the mangos he had set aside for Haru. Many of the smaller monkey summons were motivated by food, especially fruit. The monkey chomped messily on the mango. Chunks of the fruit fell to the floor as Haru devoured the sweet flesh. Sweet juices flowed profusely from his mouth. Hiruzen grimaced as he watched his carpet become infused with mango.
"More," said Haru. He grasped for the fruit in Hiruzen's hand. He lifted it out of the small monkey's reach.
"After you tell me about the boy," he said. He knew Haru would only ask for more if he acquiesced to his demands.
Haru was quite the sight after eating mango. His sullen expression was marred by bits of yellow fruit stuck to the hairs of his chin. "What do you want to know?" he asked.
"Per Enma's request, how did the boy fair?" HIruzen said.
Haru considered the question, scratching his mango covered chin. "He is more observant than expected. He saw me."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at this information. His monkey summons were not easy to spot. They were particularly adept at hiding and clinging to the shadows of trees. Experienced chunin would have trouble spotting even a young monkey like Haru.
"Go on," he said, prompting Haru to continue speaking.
"He is resilient. He really took a beating," Haru said, tittering with mirth. He reached out for the mango, before Hiruzen swatted the small hand away.
"So, he lost then?" Hiruzen said.
"Oh, yes," Haru said, "but he put up a fight. Even made the other boy bleed."
Hiruzen tossed the mango to the outstretched monkey's hands. "Eat it outside," Hiruzen said.
Haru caught the mango deftly before fleeing through the open window. It was not often that the monkey's took an interest in a child, or any human for that matter. However, Naruto was no ordinary child and he already had a close connection to the monkeys, though he did not know it.
The Monkey King, Enma, was one of the few present to witness the resealing of the Kyuubi. He had fought alongside Hiruzen that night and beheld the Kyuubi in all of its terrifying fury. And he had seen that beast sealed within the body of a newborn infant. The body of an Uzumaki was terrifyingly powerful in its own right. Enma had been interested in the boy ever since.
Hiruzen brought his pipe to his lips as he felt a familiar signature approach. "Come in, old friend," Hiruzen said.
The door creaked open revealing his long time friend and rival, Danzo. Danzo entered slowly and purposefully, placing his cane carefully in front of him as he shuffled into the room. .
Hiruzen rolled his eyes. "You can drop the act in front of me, you phony," he said.
Danzo straightened, a small smile gracing his wrinkled face.
"Even now, you know me well," Danzo said, "you are right that we, as old friends, should be more honest with one another."
He strode into the room. Hiruzen offered him a pipe, which Danzo accepted. He packed it gently with one hand.
"It is not often that you meet me in my place of comfort," Hiruzen said, "to be honest, I do not like to conduct business in my sanctuary."
Danzo chuckled and puffed on his pipe contentedly. "I cannot visit you?" Danzo said.
"We both know the days of a pleasant visit are long past," Hiruzen said, "it tires me to play such games with you."
"You never play along, that is true," Danzo said, "Very well, I will be forthright with you. I noticed that you have taken a special and sudden interest in Uzumaki Naruto. To be honest, I am surprised."
"I have made promises that I intend to keep. To look after the boy should be my duty," he said.
Danzo's tired look finally focused on him. "A little late, no?" He said. Hiruzen recognized it as a comment intended to rankle him.
Hiruzen nodded. "You are right, I do not deny that."
"So," Danzo said, "what are your intentions? The clans will complain, unjustly or not. They will cry foul despite knowledge of his special status."
"Let them," Hiruzen said.
This comment apparently caused great amusement in Danzo. He threw his head back and barked a raspy laugh.
"You finally grew a spine," he said, "I can hardly believe it." Danzo took a puff of his pipe, the amusement still clear on his face.
Hiruzen shrugged. "Think what you will," he said.
They had not seen eye to eye for many decades. Through his time as Hokage, they had struck a partial truce. You stay out of my way, I'll stay out of yours and we will both know that Konoha is for the better. The arrangement had led to tensions and strife. Now, Hiruzen hardly cared what Danzo thought.
"A wager then?" Danzo said, "If the boy fails for a 3rd time, you will let me train him. I will not admit him to Root, but I will use my ways, Tobirama-sensei's ways, to train him."
Tobirama had been a strict teacher. In this day and age, his methods would be considered outdated and though he had made significant contributions to the Academy, those ways would not work for Naruto.
"And if he passes?" Hiruzen said.
Danzo raised his one functional hand and leaned back. "Then I will let you be. Your intentions with the boy would be of no concern to me," he said. He stuck out his hand.
Hiruzen shook his head. "No," he said, "we won't bet on him."
"You don't trust he will pass?" Danzo said.
"It is you who I do not trust," Hiruzen said, "Naruto will pass. There is nothing I am more confident in than that. When he does, I will continue to look out for him, whether you like that or not."
Danzo's smile faded, but he nodded nonetheless. "Very well," he said, "perhaps your change of heart will lead to positive results."
Danzo stood and shuffled his way to the door. "I look forward to watching him grow. If you are able to grow a powerful tool for Konoha, I will have no qualms about your methods."
Danzo left, closing the door lightly behind him. Hiruzen watched Danzo go knowing that his trust in Naruto was warranted. He steeled his resolve. He will be a great ninja.
Naruto continued to study and meditate. Chakra basics were beginning to make sense to him. Meditation morning sessions had begun to resemble a habit for Naruto. It was always among the first things he did when he awoke in the morning. He had become more aware of chakra as a whole and in some ways felt awakened to an invisible world around him. He noticed that every living thing, creature or otherwise, had chakra. To his surprise, even bugs and plants coursed with chakra.
In addition, he'd become much more aware of his own chakra. Its flowing feel had not dissipated in the slightest, but Naruto was now more aware of ways in which he could contain his chakra within his body, stopping the random leakage he experienced up until this point.
Naruto's head throbbed where Kiba had struck him. The defeat had left him sore, physically and mentally. It was hard to come to terms with a loss like that, especially with Kiba's final words. Naruto was under no illusions about what his classmates thought of him. Whether it was because of his past antics, or some other reason, Naruto was unsure. All he knew was that his treatment went beyond simple annoyance.
Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his sore head gently. He grimaced as he grazed the welt. He had yet to go back to the old man's house, almost nervous that he would be rejected because of his loss. The old man wouldn't do that, would he? Naruto wasn't sure.
He wished he had the certainty to say otherwise. Instead of dwelling on something that made him upset, Naruto instead tried to focus on training. He was so close to completing the clone jutsu. In fact, he felt he might be ready to attempt it. He had been meditating for a while now and he felt distinctly within himself the two types of chakra. He felt both yin and yang. He knew that he had much more yang chakra, but even he had not realized the discrepancies until now. His yang chakra dwarfed the size of his yin chakra.
Making the hand signs for the jutsu, he focused on his yin chakra, channeling it into the technique. "Clone technique!" He said.
In a puff of smoke, a clone appeared. It was as if he was looking in the mirror. He stood, shocked into silence as the clone quirked its head to the side, observing him. Naruto reached out his hand, trembling. His hand passed right through the head of the clone.
He suddenly smiled from ear to ear and whooped loudly. Racing around the room, he cheered, clapped, and generally made a ruckus. Being alone, he had no one to bother.
"I've got to show the old man," Naruto said.
He sprinted out of his apartment without grabbing so much as his training gear.
He quickly made his way through the village. He did not stop, not for ramen or anything. As he rounded the final corner to the old man's house he bumped into someone much smaller.
"Oh, sor-"
"Stop following me!" The small boy said. Naruto leaned back as the boy shouted in his face.
Naruto scowled, bad memories of past accusations filling his mind. "I'm not following you, brat."
"Yes, you are!" The brat said, "you've been following me for 7 different turns. There's no way that is a coincidence, so back off before I make you!" Naruto batted away the boy's pointed finger, which was directed at him accusingly.
The brat was red in the face. He was vaguely familiar. Naruto thought that he might have seen him at the Academy before. He had brown hair that protruded at an awkward angle through his gray helmet. He was missing a few teeth, but Naruto didn't think that was from fighting.
"You're wrong," Naruto said, "this is just the direction I'm going, now if you'll move, I can be on my way." His brow furrowed with irritation.
"Fine!" the boy said, still shouting.
Naruto made his way around the boy, but they both appeared to still be aimed in the same direction. Naruto started walking faster, hoping to lose the boy. As Naruto increased his pace, so did the boy.
Naruto quickened his pace again, now lightly jogging. To his annoyance, the brat quickened his pace as well, following shortly behind him.
Finally, Naruto raced down the hill. As he was about to look back he heard a screech.
"Aiee!"
Naruto rotated just in time to see the brat leaping at his back. Surprised, Naruto sidestepped, letting the leaping boy tumble down the hill.
The boy lay sprawled on the ground at the bottom of the hill near the old man's house. He shakily stood up. "I won't let you at gramps," he said, "he's mine to assassinate!"
"Assassinate?" Naruto said, confused. The boy charged again, swinging his fists wildly and with little accuracy.
Naruto pushed the boy to the ground. The boy sprawled to the ground, his face plowing through the dirt. He scrambled to his feet again, wiping his face of grime.
"What are you talking about, kid?" Naruto said.
"You're obviously an assassin sent to kill my gramps. I'm taking that hat off him first, I called dibs already, so you better wait in line!" The boy said.
Naruto laughed, the absurdity of it all finally getting to him. "You've got it all wrong. I know the old man. I'm here to show him something new that I learned," said Naruto.
"Wait, you're not here to kill him?" he said.
"No, absolutely not," Naruto said, laughing again, "you said he's your gramps?"
"That's right!" The boy said, harumphing. He crossed his arms in a petulant manner. "I bet you're sorry you knocked me down now!"
Naruto shook his head. "Not at all, you deserved it for attacking me without warning."
Naruto moved past the boy again and made his way to the house.
"Hey, hey," the boy said, "wait!" The boy fell in step with him as Naruto walked through the grass and dirt.
"You don't care that I'm the Hokage's grandson?" He said.
Naruto smiled down at him. "If anything, it makes me want to whack you more!"
The boy sputtered and Naruto grinned easily.
They reached the front door together. The boy swung open the door and shouted into the house. "Gramps! Some yellow haired dingbat is here to see you!"
"What-" Naruto said, indignant at the insult.
Asuma walked through the adjacent door, looking just as disheveled as Naruto remembered him from the last time they met.
"Oy, Konohamaru, too loud."
The old man came trodding down from the second floor the next moment. He was laughing already.
"I see you've met my grandson, Konohamaru."
Naruto nodded. "He's clearly a handful," he said. Then he remembered why he came.
"Old man," Naruto said, "Watch this!" He performed the clone techniques with the required hand signs and channeled his yin chakra in the way he had practiced. With a poof of smoke, an identical copy of himself appeared, an accomplished look on his face. He and his clone stood side by side.
Hiruzen smiled. "Well done, boy," he said, "I'm proud of you."
Naruto felt a wave of warmth flow through his body. All he felt like doing was smiling. So he did.
Asuma clapped him on the back. "Good work, kid."
"Naruto," the old man said, "join us for dinner to celebrate, won't you?"
Naruto nodded vigorously. He felt at home with the old man and his family, even with the brat he had just met. They treated him like any other kid and that made him happy. I won't let you down, he thought. I absolutely won't.