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Chapter Text

He was always “That Kid.” The one everyone looked at. Always talked about, but in the worst way. Did they think he couldn’t hear what they were saying? Even his classmates were beginning to do the same. The adults had been like that for as long as he could remember.
But what did he care? He was Naruto Uzumaki, and they’ll remember that name whether they like it or not!

But still. He couldn’t get the image of the way they looked at him out of his head. Hatred, but mixed with… fear? Where would that even come from? He’s a kid. They were clearly stronger than him, but he’d never admit that out loud.

It was like they blamed him for the incident 10 years ago. How could he have done anything? Naruto had literally just been born. He couldn’t have had anything to do with it. Right?

Don’t even go there. That idea is completely crazy.

“Is it?”

Chapter Text

“WHOA- okay, who said that, who are you, and HOW COULD YOU HEAR WHAT I WAS THINKING?!” 

“A friend. Or at least I’d like to be.” 

Naruto hesitated a moment. People had taken advantage of his desire for a friend before, and it hadn’t ended well for him. “You didn’t answer my question.” 

“I will, but first I’d advise you to simply think back at me, since only you can hear my voice and I can hear your thoughts.” 

“Like this? Also, isn’t that a little bit of an invasion of privacy? And there isn’t anyone around anyways, why go to the trouble?” 

“Yeah, like that. I can only hear some of your thoughts, so it isn’t as bad as you think. And yes, there are people here, the ANBU practically have you under constant surveillance.” 

“You’re just adding to my questions at this point. WHY THE HECK AM I UNDER CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE??” 

“Look, it’s a bit of a long story, so I’ll just get to the point. I am the 9-tailed fox spirit.” 

“Excuse me.” 

“I’m not that dangerous right now even if I wanted to be. This seal is keeping me from doing much of anything other than talking to you.” 

“W h a t” 

“As you know, ‘I’ attacked the village 10 years ago. The fourth Hokage-”

“He died but took you down with him, saving the village. I know that already. AND YET YOU’RE STILL HERE, HOW IS THAT?! And what’s with the emphasis on “I”?”

“Well, the fourth Hokage sealed me inside you” 

A few moments of stunned silence pass. “HOW CAN YOU JUST CASUALLY DROP THAT???!” 

“That’s why they all hate you. All they see is something that destroyed their village and killed their comrades. Don’t you want to-”

“Shut up. JUST SHUT UP!!” Naruto might have said that one out loud. 

And then it was quiet. 

Chapter Text

Iruka had noticed a very small behavioral change with Naruto. It was easy to miss, especially since most of everyone else didn’t give a crap about Naruto’s well-being. Iruka didn’t know what exactly changed, but something about him felt… off. 

Iruka decided not to pry, Naruto would tell him what was going on if he wanted to. 

—-

“I know you can hear me. Why tell me? Why now?” 

“Well, why not tell you? Why not now?” 

“…can’t argue with that. So why DID you attack Konoha?” 

“I was being controlled. I would have otherwise mainly left it alone. Name’s Kurama, by the way.” 

“Oh. Hi Kurama.” 

Chapter Text

It had been about a year since Naruto first learned about Kurama. He had surprised everyone when he passed the academy graduation test with flying colors, because the last time they checked he was Dead Last. 

Kurama had certainly been helpful during class and training, giving the occasional hint. 

After 2 hours of waiting (that was supposed to be 15 minutes), Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were finally with their new teacher. 

“What I want you to do is tell me a little about yourself. Likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams.” 

Naruto jumped in first. “My name is Naruto Uzumaki! What I like is ramen. What I don’t like is the three minute wait while heating it up. Hobbies..? Pranks and practical jokes, I guess. And my dream is to become Hokage, and surpass every hokage before me!” 

Sakura went next. “My name is Sakura Haruno. What I like is people who can see the true beauty of someone. What I don’t like is when my parents are being jerks about people for no reason. Don’t tell them I sad that, though,” she added under her breath. “My hobby is gardening, I suppose. My dream is to become a strong kunoichi, like Lady Tsunade.” 

“My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate most things and there are very few I like. Dreams and hobbies are irrelevant to me, but what I do have is determination. I am going to restore my clan, and there is someone I have sworn to kill.” 

“Edge lord.” Naruto had to cover up a snicker at Kurama’s comment with coughing, earning him an extra-dirty look from Sasuke. 

“My name is Kakashi Hatake. I like a lot of things and dislike just as many. I have a lot of hobbies. My dreams are, frankly, none of your business.” They didn’t know whether to be impressed or annoyed that all they learned from that was Kakashi’s name. 

———-

“YOU’RE LATE!” Sakura and Naruto shouted in unison once Kakashi came into view. Their sensei had specifically requested the team at the training ground at the break of dawn, without breakfast. It was now late morning. They were understandably upset. 

What Sakura had said about her parents earlier was definitely true, but a little more specific to whom. They were only outwardly jerks about Naruto. She didn’t really know why. Sakura had decided to be nice to Naruto out of spite. She wondered if that was the best reason. The other main grievance she had with her parents was the reason they enrolled her in the academy to begin with. At the time didn’t have any interest in becoming a nin, but they enrolled her to make sure she got a ninja husband from a powerful clan. It felt a little soon to her. During her time in the academy, though, she learned about Lady Tsunade and all the lives she had saved. Not to mention, she could LITERALLY MOVE MOUNTAINS. It was then when Sakura decided she wanted to be just like her. It had definitely been difficult to convince them to let her stay after she made Genin. Once she made them realize that this was what she really, truly wanted, and that she wouldn’t be satisfied with simply working at their store, they had finally caved in. She loved her parents, but sometimes they were… difficult. 

“Your goal is to get these bells from me,” Kakashi was saying, as he held up two silver bells. Wait, two? 

“But, Kakashi-sensei, there’s only two of them...” 

“Right. Anyone who doesn’t get the bell is tied to the post and is sent back to the academy.” Kakashi paused to let that sink in. “And when you attack me, strike to kill, or else you won’t get anywhere.” 

Before Sakura had realized what was happening, Naruto had ran at Kakashi, kunai drawn, and by the time she had registered that, Kakashi had the situation completely turned around, pointing Naruto’s kunai at him. “I didn’t say go yet.” 

Sakura bit her lip. There was no way even Sasuke, the top of the class, could beat Kakashi on his own. If they wanted to get anywhere, they should probably team up against him. But there were only two bells. Sakura sighed. She really wanted to pass this, but it was clear Naruto and Sasuke would never just give up their chance like that. There was always next year, right? It’s not like she couldn’t try again… 

“Go.” 

Chapter Text

Sakura decided she would follow Naruto first. He seemed easier to get on board with this than Sasuke would be. Besides, when he wasn’t being loud, Naruto was pretty ok to be around. 

“Hey, Naruto?” Sakura tried to grab his attention as discreetly as possible. 

“Yeah?” 

“I think we should team up to get the bells. All three of us. You saw firsthand how fast Kakashi-sensei is.” 

“Then who isn’t getting a bell?” 

“You and Sasuke can have them, I don’t mind. There’s always next year, right?” 

“But that wouldn’t be fair to you…” 

“Then we’ll just have to beg Kakashi-sensei to let me stay. Are we doing this or not?” 

Naruto seemed to pause a moment. “Yeah, okay.” 

————

“Well, Naruto’s doing it.” 

Sasuke watched poised for the attack some ways away in the undergrowth, waiting for an opening. 

Naruto went at Kakashi head on with a decent amount of shadow clones, while Sakura went off to the side to attack with taijutsu at another angle. It wasn’t in perfect sync by any means, but not too shabby. 

They were definitely a lot better than he thought they were. 

There!

Sasuke threw the shuriken with deadly accuracy, but when he blinked, there was a log in Kakashi’s place. 

Crap! Of course it was a substitution- 

Sasuke’s thoughts were cut off as he sensed Kakashi behind him, and was forced to go out in the open with the others. 

It also turns out that this team up was exactly what they needed to turn the tables, and before long Sasuke and Naruto had a bell with Sakura standing in between them. 

“I’m impressed with you three,” Kakashi stated. “You’re the first rookies I’ve come across to actually do the exercise correctly. You all pass.” 

“Wait, really?” Sakura asked, clearly not expecting that response. Now that Sasuke thought about it though, it kinda made sense. “If you just wanted us to work together, why didn’t you have three bells?” 

“I simply wanted to know which one of you would give up the chance for the others,” Kakashi explained. “So congrats, Sakura. Always remember, you three, shinobi who don’t follow the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are even worse than scum.” 

And with that Kakashi left. 

Chapter Text

Sasuke would never admit it, but it was actually kind of fun to be around the other members of team 7. He actually had to remind himself a couple times what his real goal in life was. So when Naruto and Sakura invited him into their scheme of trying to get a Kakashi face reveal, he wasn’t going to do it. They were too distracting. 

“What if he has lips like a blimp?” No. No. DON’T IMAGINE IT- 

Despite Sasuke’s best efforts the image of Kakashi with huge lips entered his mind. He had to know what was behind Kakashi’s mask. 

So they proceeded to try to get Kakashi to take off his mask to no avail throughout the entire mission. 

Eventually, Kakashi found out what they were trying to do. 

“You could have just asked,” Kakashi said, reaching for his mask. 

“Seriously?” 

“Why didn’t we do that?” 

“Under my mask is…” Everyone was on the edge of their seats to see what Kakashi looked like. 

“Another mask.”  

****

“I think we can trust them, Kurama.” 

“I thought we discussed this, Naruto.” 

“But-“ 

“No buts. They wouldn’t be like this if they knew.” 

“Well, how do you know-”

“I’ve been inside others before you. I know how this plays out.” 

“Still, how do you know it won’t be-”

“End of discussion.” 

“BUT-”

“End. Of. Discussion.” 

“…fine.”

Chapter Text

It was the end of another successful mission. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were headed home when they heard some kind of argument going on. 

“Watch where you’re going, brat!” 

Some kid seems to have run into someone. This would have been normal, but the someone was a shinobi. With a headband of another village. 

“Keep your guard up and don’t engage.” 

Naruto nodded slightly, before wondering if Kurama could even tell. He focused his attention back to the situation at hand. There were two shinobi, one with a long black top and something wrapped up on his back. The other was a kunoichi with blonde hair and something that looked like a closed fan. The situation was about to get violent, the shinobi has now picked up the kid. This is getting out of hand- 

“Wait.” Naruto stopped as soon as he started to go over. 

A pebble seemingly out of nowhere hit the arm of the black top shinobi with incredible accuracy, making him drop the kid. Naruto noticed it came from Sasuke’s direction. Makes sense. 

“Tell me… what are you guys doing in our village?” Sasuke asked suspiciously. 

“Oh look, another little brat.”

“Get lost.” 

“You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you?” The shinobi whipped out the thing on his back. 

“Tell me you’re not planning to use the ‘crow’?” The kunoichi seemed surprised the shinobi was taking it that far. 

”Kankuro! Don’t!” A voice from behind them startled everyone. “You’re a disgrace to our entire village.” 

“Ugh. The one-tail. I can smell the bloodlust from here.” Naruto wondered what Kurama had against said one-tail. He turned around to see a shinobi with a huge gourd on his back. 

“G- Gaara…” the other shinobi (Kankuro, apparently) completely changed in demeanor, becoming incredibly nervous, and pasting an obviously fake smile on his face.

“It annoys me that you’d lose control in a quarrel with children! Have you forgotten why we came here?” 

“But Gaara… they started it. The little one slammed me!” 

“Shut up… or I’ll kill you.” 

Kankuro shuddered. “You’re right. I was out of line.” 

The kunoichi added, “We’re sorry… okay Gaara? Really, really sorry!” 

Gaara used some kind of jutsu to teleport right next to them. “I know we’re a little early, but we didn’t come here to play around.” 

“I swear it won’t happen again.” 

“Let’s go.” 

“WAIT!” Sakura finally cut in. “According to your headbands, you three come from the village hidden in the sand. Your country is one of Konoha’s allies, but according to our treaty, your ninja aren’t permitted to cross the border without authorization. State your business! We can’t just let you go on your merry way.” 

“Weren’t you informed?” The sand kunoichi answered. “As you guessed, we’re junior-level ninja from the hidden sand village. We’re here to take the chunin selection exam.” 

“Let’s go.” Gaara began to walk away, his gaze lingering on Naruto, before the three of them disappeared. 

***

“So what have you called us here for Kakashi-sensei?” Just to be late again, Sakura added in her mind. 

“Sorry, I got lost on the path of life,” Kakashi explained. “This may come as a surprise to you, but I’ve recommended the three of you for the Chunin selection exam.” 

“NO WAY!” Sakura wondered if it could be some kind of joke. Them, getting recommended for the exams? 

“You need to fill out applications.” So it wasn’t a joke! “You needn’t turn in those application forms unless you want to. If you do, report to room 301 at the school by 4:00 tomorrow afternoon. That’s all!” Kakashi then vanished. 

The three of them smiled and looked at each other.