Naruto's Odyssey
Prologue II
[At the Konoha Shinobi Academy, entrance exam.]
The door to the examination room opened.
"Naruto!"
With a long, deep breath, he hopped off the too tall chair, feet touching the wooden floor for the first time in what felt like hours.
"Come on, no need to be nervous." The instructor waved him forward and he tried vehemently to squash the mix of excitement and anxiety threatening to make his knees wobble, then quickly scampered in past the instructor.
Inside, rows of benches and desks sloped down towards an open area at the front of the room, where the teacher's desk and chalkboard stood, not unlike any other typical classroom.
"Do you have your registration form?" The Chūnin asked.
He snaked a hand into his pocket and fished out the folded paper, before handing it over to the Chūnin, who accepted it with a gentle smile and began reading it over.
As the man's dark eyes examined the letter, Naruto made mental notes of his appearance. Tall and lean, his hair combed down to cover his right eye. The instructor wore his forehead protector like a bandana, along with the standard Chūnin vest.
A shinobi. That's what Naruto wanted to be. Someone strong and respected, acknowledged by everyone in the village. He wouldn't settle for being some no-name orphan. He'd kick ass and take names, and one day everyone would know his name.
"Alright, everything seems in order." The Chūnin nodded, unknowingly snapping Naruto back to reality. He placed the form on top of a stack of papers on his desk, then turned to him. "My name's Izumo. And we're going to try to unlock your chakra. You ready?"
Naruto nodded eagerly.
"Good." Izumo smiled. "Now, find a position you're comfortable in. Sitting down, standing up, cross-legged, whatever's fine." Naruto remained standing and Izumo continued. "Now, hold your hands in the Ram seal like this," he joined his hands together to form the seal and Naruto mirrored it as well as he could "-and focus inwards."
Naruto tilted his head, confused. "Focus inwards?"
"Close your eyes and concentrate. Our chakra reserves reside behind the naval region, below the rib cage. It's kind of like a 'gut feeling', understand?" The instructor explained, pointing at his own stomach.
Gut feeling, huh… "Yeah, I think so." Naruto closed his eyes and searched within himself as instructed. A few minutes passed and the silence grew overwhelming. A pang of worry sprang to life in his chest. Fear that he might not have what it takes to be a shinobi.
Opening his eyes, he looked at the instructor for guidance. Seeing the concern in his gaze, Izumo reassured him, "Don't worry, it usually takes some time to unlock. Just keep trying."
Again, he closed his eyes. He was driven, but also afraid Izumo would call it off if he failed again. Gut feeling… gut feeling… come on, come on.
Then he felt it. A small fire in his stomach. "I-I've got it!" he exclaimed, worry washing away before a wave of joy.
"Good, Naruto, very good. Keep focusing on it. Try to pull on it. Guide it through your body and to your hands."
Invigorated by his first success, he yanked, trying to wrench it to his hands. It was slow, but he felt it spread. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, and Naruto looked up curiously. "Don't wrestle with it, Naruto. Relax, let the chakra flow, and guide it gently where you want it to go. Draw it with care."
Naruto stared wide-eyed before nodding. Now that he knew what chakra felt like, it was easy to find it again. Even though he let the fire die out, he could easily place the smouldering embers left behind. He didn't pull on it though. Izumo had told him to let it flow, not just jerk it around. A bead of sweat trailed down his forehead and his nose scrunched up in concentration. It took some time to figure out how to actually guide it, but when it clicked, the chakra moved significantly faster than before.
As it did, a sudden warmth washed over him. Pouring out from his stomach and seeping slowly into the rest of his body. A surge of strength and energy, that pleasant, snug way you'd feel when the sun shone bright overhead. Enveloping him like a cocoon of comfortable heat.
"Wow…" Naruto whispered.
Izumo chuckled at his wonderment and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Good work, kid. You pass."
Naruto grinned brightly, vibrating with excitement. He threw his tiny fists up in the air, "Yes! I'm gonna be the best shinobi ever!"
[Sometime after the examinations, in the Hokage office.]
"As anticipated, those of clan birth passed their examinations. Most already had their chakra unlocked. Notably Senju Akihiro and Uchiha Sasuke, both had potent chakra for their age." Izumo reported, reading off the notes from the Academy entrance exam.
Hiruzen grunted in affirmation, smoking on his tobacco pipe while looking through the application papers. He turned over each with only a glance, sparing a more thorough look-over only for the clan heirs. Finally, he reached the last application, crumpled around the edges, bearing the image of a boy with spiky, golden hair and blue eyes.
He looked up at the examiner. From the Kamizuki clan if he remembered correctly.
"Among those not descended from clans, there were forty-four. Passable, but mostly unremarkable." Izumo continued, "Except one. An orphan named Naruto. He had some trouble in the beginning, but his reserves were unlike anything I've ever felt. Absurdly large for a civilian his age."
Koharu and Homura shared a glance at the name while Hiruzen gave the instructor a nod, "We'll look into it. You're dismissed."
Izumo bowed and left the room, door clicking closed gently behind him.
"Six years…" Koharu sighed.
There was a slight pause.
"Hiruzen… what do you have in mind for the boy?" Homura asked his old friend.
"He'll join the Konoha Academy." Hiruzen answered simply.
Homura rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Yes, we know he'll join the academy. I meant what do you intend for his future as a shinobi."
The Hokage breathed out a plume of smoke. Taking off his red and white hat, the mark of his office, he rubbed a hand through his greying hair and beard. "I don't know what you expect me to say, Homura. He'll join the academy, become a Genin, and hopefully go on to become a proper shinobi of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Same as every other academy student."
"But he's not like all the other student, Hiruzen." Koharu replied, arms folded in her lap. Her expression was soft, compassionate. As she had always been since their youth. "He is the Jinchūriki of the Kyūbi no Yōko. The most powerful of the Bijū. It's an asset we cannot overlook. You know that."
"I know." Hiruzen sighed. He knew it all too well. "But he is still only a boy of six. Not even in the Academy. He carries a burden far too great for a child. Let us at least wait until he becomes a Genin."
"Of course. I don't wish to burden him any more than you, my friend. Nor would he likely understand the weight of his burden were we to tell him. Not at least for the next couple of years. But he will not remain a boy forever. And sooner or later, he will be exposed to its existence. I'd rather he was prepared when such a time comes, than being caught unaware." Homura stated. "We still don't know how the beast might affect the boy through its seal. There is little enough information on Jinchūriki, and even less on the fox."
Hiruzen knew that of course. The creation of Jinchūriki was an aspect of Fūinjutsu still largely uncharted. Beyond the comprehension of even the most skilled seal masters. And the full scope of the ancient seal Minato had used was still a mystery to them.
Upon his successor's death, Hiruzen had been reinstated as Hokage. And when he had entered the Hokage vault, he had found the Forbidden Scroll unfurled to the point of a particular seal.
The Reaper Death Seal.
He remembered with startling clarity the strange sensations he'd felt in that large clearing in which the seal had been used. It had been unlike anything he had ever felt. He'd been filled with dread upon entering the site. Decay and the promise of death had hung in the air.
How the seal functioned, Hiruzen did not know. Only that that the cost of sealing was the casters life.
Was the seal permanent? Or would it weaken over time? If so, how long did they have left. And should the beast escape, would it set its sight on the village again? Would they be able to survive another attack?
These questions had troubled him for the last six years and would likely trouble him for years to come.
As if sensing the downward turn of his thoughts, Homura spoke. "I agree with you that we should wait, Hiruzen. Let us not speak of it anymore today."
Hiruzen was glad for the reprieve and Koharu nodded in agreement, quickly moving on from the subject of Naruto. "As for the civilians who passed the examinations, I expect they'll be sent to Hotaru field."
Hiruzen hummed in agreement.
Konoha had changed significantly since the era of warring clans had come to an end, and the days of Senju Hashirama.
When Senju Tobirama, the second Hokage, had taken office, he had implemented an educational institution that would turn children into shinobi without the risk of being sent into the battlefield prematurely. Where they would grow into their roles, instead of having it thrust upon them.
Over the years, as the population grew and the village expanded, other such institutions were created outside Konoha's borders, with permission from the daimyō. Hotaru field was one such institution. Located in the North, it was the largest academy in terms of number of students. Most civilian born ninja who passed the examinations in Konoha were sent there.
The Konoha academy only graduated a couple dozen students each year. And though they were of a higher caliber courtesy of being clan descendants, the majority of the Land of Fire's shinobi ranks were filled by those very other academies spread out throughout the nation.
[Two weeks later, Hokage office.]
He dropped to one knee as soon as the door closed behind him. His body still ached from the arduous journey back from his mission in Ta no Kuni, but as the leader of their ANBU squad, Inu was responsible for reporting back to the Hokage.
Lord Fifth's back was still turned to him. His appearance was one of old age and short stature, but it had never fooled Inu. This was the man who'd fought in two of the three great shinobi wars, trained by the fifth Hokage. Master of the five elements and all the Ninjutsu Konoha had to offer. The man known as The Professor. Feared and respected in equal measure across the Elemental Nations.
If the Hokage was bothered by Inu's sudden appearance, he didn't show it, continuing to gaze out the window overlooking the village. It was a beautiful sight. A cloudless night sky lit by thousands of stars that shone like far-away candles in the dark. The village was asleep and at peace.
The Hokage exhaled a cloud of lightly rising smoke, courtesy the man's trademark tobacco pipe.
"Report."
"We reached Degarashi port after three days of travel. Except a Suna genin team spotted near Uji River, the journey was largely uneventful. The investigation… the locals claimed to have seen a man wearing a black cloak with red clouds, with pale skin and long black hair, in the village at same time as one of the Land of Water's seven warlords of the sea was spotted at the coast. But he was long gone by the time we arrived. No traces left behind as to what he was doing there, or where he plans to go next."
The Hokage hummed in thought, contemplative. Inu remained silent.
"Which one?"
"Hoshigaki Kisame. Only joined recently."
"Troubling… Hoshigaki Kisame is not a man lightly trifled with. Out on the sea, he could go toe to toe with any of the Kage. Not to mention that he wields Samehada. A deadly weapon. Forged by Kiri's most revered shinobi swordsmith. The Fūinjutsu used to create those blades are highly coveted." Hiruzen breathed out a plume of smoke. "Now what could my former student possibly have to speak about with a man like that." A beat of silence. "You have done well, Inu. Dismissed."
Inu rose and made to leave, but as he reached out for the doorhandle, the Hokage spoke up.
"Kakashi."
Inu froze in his tracks. Unused to hearing that name- his name- while the porcelain mask rested on his face, cool and lifeless against his skin.
The man continued, "He's joined the Shinobi program."
An image of a young child with blond hair and blue eyes floated to the top of his mind but was quickly replaced by that of an older man with the same features. A pang of long buried sadness and grief made its way to the surface at the reminder of what had happened that night.
Had it really been six years? He… he didn't know what to say.
"I… see."
The Hokage sighed. "Go now, rest."
[First day at the Konoha Shinobi Academy.]
Naruto entered the academy grounds with butterflies in his stomach, carrying his small orange backpack. It rustled as he approached, filled with everything an academy student might need and provided by the orphanage he lived at.
The courtyard was filled with kids wearing bright expressions, watched over by proud parents. And although it would normally fill him with a sense of sadness, today, he found that it was overshadowed by excitement and a dash of nervousness.
Most orphans ended up joining the shinobi program, like him, though they were usually sent to one of the other academies in Fire country. Unlike them however, he had been accepted into the Konoha academy. The best of the academies, where those from shinobi clans usually went.
(He'd childishly reasoned that he had been too awesome for anything else.)
Belatedly, he realized he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do now that he was actually at the academy. Where was he meant to go next? Should he talk to someone?
Briefly he wondered about getting to know some of the other kids, but they all stood beside their parents, who were chatting with other adults. And he didn't want to interrupt. That would be rude, right? He had to make a good first impression. At least that was what Ayane-san, the orphanage matron, had told him.
And so he just stood there awkwardly for a while until the doors to the Academy opened and a group of instructors came walking out.
"Please, if I could have your attention." One of the instructors said, holding a clipboard. His voice loud enough to be heard over all the chatter going on, Naruto was surprised by how quickly everyone went quiet. "Welcome to the Konoha Shinobi Academy. My name's Mizuki, and I'm one of the instructors here. Now, I'm going to be reading out a list of names. If you hear your name, kindly go and stand next to the instructor I tell you to."
He cleared his throat and started reading off names.
"Class 1A, under Wakayama Hiroshi." He gestured to the side, where a stern looking man nodded seriously. "Aburame Aki, Akimichi Cho, Yamanaka Emi, Yamanaka Genji, Hyūga–"
Mizuki kept reading off names one after the other and Naruto listened intently, waiting eagerly for his own. Mizuki finished with Class 1A, and B, and eventually, he got to C.
"Class 1C, under Umino Iruka." This instructor looked younger than the others, Naruto noted. He had a spiky ponytail and a scar across his nose. When Mizuki called his name, Iruka stepped forward and smiled genially.
Mizuki kept reading out names, until he neared the end of the class roster. "– Uchiha Sasuke, Kamizuki Daichi, Inuzuka Katashi, Nara Kei, Haruno Sakura, and lastly, Naruto."
Naruto brightened. 'Finally!'
Keeping a firm grip on the straps of his backpack, he quickly ran over to his assigned instructor.
When all the students in the yard had been called and sorted into classes, the parents bid their children farewell and left.
Iruka had taken them directly to their classroom, and once inside, bid them take a seat.
"So, why don't we get to know each other a little better." He said, clapping his hands together. "Introduce ourselves. Tell everyone a little about yourself, hm? Likes, dislikes, dreams for the future. I'll begin."
He took a piece of chalk and started writing. "My name is Umino Iruka, and I'll be your instructor for the next two years." He turned to face them with a smile. "I'm 22 years old, and as you can see from my vest, I'm a Chūnin. I like teaching, and my hobbies are gardening and reading. My dream, well, it was to become a teacher at this very academy. So I guess I've got that down."
"Alright, now you guys. How about we begin over there." Iruka pointed over at one of the kids who sat in the far back corner of the class. He had straight brown hair that came down to his shoulders, and the pale moon crest of the Kamizuki clan sown onto the breast pocket of his shirt. As one, all the kids turned their heads in his direction.
He gulped.
Naruto waited patiently along with everyone else as the boy stood up hesitantly. "Uh. Hi, my name's Kamizuki Daichi. I'm six. I like my friends, and… I don't like sour candy?" He said, looking at Iruka questioningly, answered by an encouraging nod. "My dream is to be a Jōnin, like my dad."
"Very good, Daichi." Iruka said and the boy sat down. Naruto noticed he'd left out his hobbies but didn't say anything. "Now, you." Iruka pointed to the boy next to Daichi, who had even longer hair. Down to his back. And pupilless, milky white eyes.
Naruto had seen others with eyes like that around the village from time to time. Though he had no idea why they looked like that. He'd always imagined that was what blind people looked like.
The boy stood up and followed suit. "I'm Hyūga Kō."
"I'm Uchiha Sasuke. I like training with my brother. And my goal for the future is to become a Jōnin." The boy dressed in blue and white said, hands tucked safely in his pockets.
"My name is Haruno Sakura." The pink-haired girl said shyly, barely audible since she was mumbling. Also, her eyes were glued firmly to the what stood out to him the most was her pink hair. It was pretty he thought. "I-I like reading. I don't like bullies. And m-my dream is to be like Senju Tsunade."
When his turn arrived, Naruto stood up and faced the class.
"I'm Naruto!" He announced, his voice loud and clear for everyone to hear. "I like Ramen. And I don't like vegetables." He declared boldly. That got some laughs from his classmates. "My goal is to become the greatest shinobi ever!"
Iruka chuckled in amusement. "Very nice, Naruto."
Excerpt from 'History of the Village Hidden in the Leaves'.
"Nearly thirty years after the death of the third Hokage, the fourth, Nara Hakuto, made great reforms to the educational institution, moulding it slowly into the Konoha Shinobi Academy we know today."
AN:
You might've noticed a lot of non-canon stuff in this chapter. Well that's because I aim to make as much use of the Naruto world as possible. There's an entire world of shinobi, and we don't get to see much of it in canon Naruto. So, World-building is going to be a core element in this fic.
Hope you enjoyed. Reviews are appreciated. Pretty interested in what people think about this story.
Discord link in profile for those of you who want to join and discuss this fanfic or other stories/anime.
~Zenix404~