Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The day his son was born, Minato had been ecstatic to have officially become a father to a child coming from his absolute world, his wife, Uzumaki Kushina. They knew the danger of it all, but the two were powerful in their own way, and so they had not truly expected such chaos to have happened. He sealed Kushina for when the day comes when she will have time to talk to their son, telling him all a mother should, the day that he is in the way to control the demon within. And he sealed himself as a barrier for when (or hopefully if) Naruto loses control and lets the beast out of him.

So, he waits and takes care of his son from inside. Not that he could do much. He was sealed inside and there is not much to do. It is only when his son feels strongly that he is able to catch wind of the real world and situation. And though he has no idea what truly goes on, Minato hates it. Strong emotions do not generally have to be depressing, but unfortunately, that is all Minato ever happens to witness. Well, except for that one time there was another man with a scarred nose and he felt his son’s joy towards him. Whoever it is, he happens to be on Minato’s good side.

Beside those incidents, Minato usually spends his time within darkness and silence. One day he will be able to see his son just the once and soon after, he will await for Kushina. He does not mind waiting, truly. Not at all. It just simply has to be that blinding light and villager-filled view—

Wait.

Villagers?

Minato composes himself and leans closer, begging to see what has caused for his son to be in such strong emotions that he is able to see the real world. About four seemingly drunk men stand around him (or his son, in this case), bottles firmly on their grasps. They swing around without any sense of direction and the view would have been amusing if it were not for the fact that his son is in deep fear. Fear never have felt before this strongly. Oh, his son feels sadness, no doubt. But fear?

The villagers, and they clearly are simple civilians as they do not wear a shinobi headband, stand before Naruto with such vicious expressions. Rage and devoted violence clearly present in their eyes. Minato hardens his expression, hands turning into fists because those men—

One raises the bottle and the other cheers on and the other is holding him — Naruto — down and the bottle is brought down and

and the glass is going

and going

and Minato rages from inside

screams at the stupidity of the men

lets his own chakra burst from body

and imagines that he stands in front of his son, shielding him from such monstrosity of those goddamn civilians that were suppose to treat his son as a hero and not as whatever this is.

Stuck with such rage, it took more than a few seconds for him to acknowledge the fact that the glass bottle broke down in front of his hands as if a wall stopped it before it made damage.

Naruto isn’t fond of his birthday. There was a time, once, when he was five years old that he passed by a civilian’s house and they happened to be celebrating their own child’s birthday. The young blond had stilled and watch with desire as he watch the other kid happily run around his parents, blessed with presents on his arms and a large grin on his face. Upon such interaction, Naruto became excited for his own that he asked the old man the day of his. Although surprised, the Hokage alluded to his request and Naruto prepared for his own.

It was a mistake that caused him to never even want to think of his birthday. Well, until Iruka-sensei. Once they got passed the whole Naruto going after that kunei that belonged to some dead shinobi and such, and had a whole familiarity with one another, Iruka-sensei was and continues to be the best thing ever in his life. Each day on October 10th, the chunnin happens to come across his apartment (since it’s very unlikely Naruto appears in front of everyone during the Kyuubi festival) with three bags filled with Ichiraku Ramen and a letter from Teuchi and Ayame and his own little gift usually involving clothes or a cookbook or even a proper small weapon.

But Naruto has accepted that he will never have a pleasant birthday party like every other children.

And though he told himself he would not go to the festival to avoid such depleting stares of disgust and hatred, Naruto finds himself jumping over rooftops, eyes glistening with want at all the activists laid out. All the prized toy plushes he so wishes to earn and be filled with laughter. Even food stands were more presently shown with such incredible smells that causes his stomach to ache in hunger. At least he will be receiving food from Iruka-sensei later, when the sun begins to go down and his academy teacher comes from his own livelier experience at the festival.

Naruto hears his heart call out to the laughters around him and so he quietly jumps off the roof, landing between the alley of two stands. He takes off his jacket, aware of how it makes him stand out and though he wears a off-white shirt with the symbol he always has on himself, it’s less noticeable than the usual orange. It also fits a bit big, but he’s used to it.

He lets himself wander off to look around, turning his hands into fists every time he hears a whisper and the eyes of some of the villagers. Monster, they call him. Demon, many of them say under their breath, as if he cannot hear. Or maybe they do want him to do so. It hurts his heart each time.

The young blond spots two familiar boys off on the distance, knowing them from his class as some of those that could care less about school. They happen to be with their mothers, the two women cheerfully gossiping while their sons merely look around. One with more excitement of his surroundings, more so when faced with all the options of food. The other, however, seems to be there more by force than anything, his eyes fluttering close every now and then.

As if he hears his mind, Nara Shikamaru opens his eyes and meets the bright blue ones belonging to Naruto. His eyebrow raises curiously, staring right at the blond before offering a short wave as if that costs him a ton of energy. Naruto yelps quietly to himself, quickly turning away and fleeing from the boy’s sight being caught off guard by the actual attention he was given. It isn’t like Shikamaru is mean to him at the academy, not at all, but it also is not like him to actually bring him up or anything of the sort. Though, it felt nice. To be waved at by a classmate. Even if the boy looked like he had been too lazy to try an actual wave, he was still given the thought.

Naruto scrubs at his cheeks, muttering to himself about such actions.

He spots some of the boys that would bully him when given the chance and so he turns to another corner, ducking down his head each time an adult would stare at him as he would give excuses. Just as he heads to one of the activities stands, the villager in charge glares down at him even before he can speak and the words get stuck to his mouth never to be heard. Instead, knowing not much can be done and having no energy for the day, he goes away. He walks and walks until he stumbles across a restaurant where the food smells far too incredible even when mixed with the stench of alcohol.

”No demons allowed,” a worker goes toward him, notepad on hand and yet a disgusted look on his face. Naruto angrily huffs and sticks his tongue out. He goes to walk away before stopping and that becomes his greatest regret at the time.

Four people were heading to walk out, and so when he stopped, all four stumbled into him and a splash of their alcohol lands on Naruto’s hair. The young boy gasps at the cold liquid and he backs away slightly, sensing the danger oozing from the four men. They stand there frozen, as if getting a good view of the boy’s stature, before one of them scrunch of their nose and start saying:

”That’s the demon-boy. Look at those whiskers of the devil,” One of them grunts angrily, taking a swing of their bottle to drink more than one should. The other men offer their agreement.

”He killed my wife,” the other says angrily.

”The whole village suffers because of him,” says the other.

“Let’s deal with him now,” offers the tallest and bulkiest of the civilians present before Naruto. The young blond widens his eyes, filled with hurt and tiredness and fear is building up but he has to be brave.

But he is also small and they look stronger and so he starts running.

He runs

and he runs

until his legs are far more tired

and he stops at an alleyway,

breaths uneven.

But safe.

He’s safe.

Naruto turns to go back to his shabby apartment, and his face pales. He is not safe. The four civilians stand in front of him, their feet unbalanced and clearly intoxicated but also filled with a certain type of determination which makes the young boy gulp in fear. He tries running again, tries going up the wall but one of the men grab his waist and he is pulled down aggressively.

A cut forms on the side of his arm as he scrapes it against the wall.

”Please,” he begs. Cries. Hopes that they will leave him alone. “I didn’t do ‘nything.”

They don’t believe him. They never do. He should have never gone out. So what if it is his birthday? No one cares. In fact, everyone hates him more on this day. He should have stayed home. Then he wouldn’t be so scared.

He cries as the man slaps his face as if to get rid of the tears coming out of his face. His arms are held down and he is too weak, too small. Surrounded by hatred and anger. And he is scared because no one is going to rescue him. No one cares. No one knows. No one. No one. No one.

Help, he wishes to cry out. But no one would come either way.

The are still swinging there all drunkenly and his despair brings them amusement. One of them raises the glass bottle of alcohol over their head, chugs it all, and then looks over at Naruto with a certain wonder. A nasty smirk arises and Naruto is frightened to the core once the glass is brought up again and goes down, aiming right at him. At his face and he’ll heal, he knows he will, but it will hurt so much and they want to kill him he knows. Slowly, probably.

Naruto whimpers, unable to do anything and awaits for the hit and pain with his eyes closed and preparing for the worst.

He waits

and waits.

Nothing happens except a grumble of surprise coming from the men. The person holding him down loosens his grip. Naruto opens his eyes to look at the villagers, and he gasps, stumbling down at the figure that stands before him. He watches as the civilian raises another glass again to try but instead of closing his eyes, Naruto notices how the glass cannot sun at him because the person stands there like a shield and the glass shatters once more.

“What…?” One of them, the one holding Naruto, whispers to himself in shock. His hold loosens more and Naruto takes it to his advantage, shoving his elbow back before sprinting away up to the rooftops. He gets ready to run, but his feet stay and curiosity wins.

Slowly, he hides as he tries to quietly watch the scene before him. The person that came to his rescue is still there, only his back being shown and he is wearing one of those coats that Naruto has seen while in the Hokage Tower. One that belongs and looks exactly like the Fourth’s. But then villagers are looking around in confusion as if they are not sure what happened. Ignoring Naruto’s savior. The savior himself appears to look puzzled as well and that is when Naruto notices that the person looks like he is fading. He looks like a ghost.

As if noticing his gaze, his savior turns around and upwards, making a quick eye contact with the young boy and Naruto gasps, gaining his ground and then fleeing from the scene. Ignoring the shock and longing on the man-ghost’s face.

The man might have saved him, but Naruto could not trust him. What if he wanted to do the same? Waiting for the right opportunity… he might have.

He runs and runs.

Until he finally reaches his apartment, locks himself in with all the windows shut down. And then places himself on the bed and forces himself not to cry.

He falls asleep and only wakes up when he senses someone else inside his apartment. Naruto clutches the side of his stomach. Someone must have managed to get in. One of the drunk men ready to finish off what they started.

Fears builds up. And then, anger. Because why… why are they doing this? He is tired and— 

and he’s angry.

He grabs the kunei’s Iruka-sensei gave him last year and he instantly throws the weapon where he feels the presence, turning around as if ready to fight despite knowing little of anything. Naruto briefly widens his eyes upon citing the very same man that had appeared before him when the villagers attacked. And the weapon, of course, had not even aimed its mark.

Unfortunately, Naruto was never good at throwing.

”Why?” Naruto questions, clutching his arms and staring fiercely back at the man. Why are you doing this?

He’s almost afraid to look in his eyes to see the same hatred as everyone else. But once he does, there is no hatred. No disgust. No fear. Only shock and longing just like before. And perhaps anger, but it doesn’t feel like it is aimed at him.

”Naruto…” the man whispers, as if the name meant much more than anything in life.

The young blond furrows his brows and frowns. “How you know my name, ‘ttebayo?” He asks, accidentally letting his usual remark slip. It practically is impossible to never say it for some reason.

And the man opens his mouth and closes it and then opens it again, eyes softening and looking like they are tearing up but Naruto sees no reason to why they would. Then, the man straightens up and his head tilts making Naruto notice that the man actually looks a little familiar, as if it is someone he should have known or recognize but it is impossible to know at the moment.

”…You can see me?” The older faded figure asks in return.

Naruto only frowns deeper. “Who’re you? ‘Course I can see ya! ‘M not blind, believe it! And why are you wearin’ the Fourth’s cloak? The old man told me no one was allowed to even touch the glass where it’s on!”

Still looking as if he were in disbelief, the man simply stares at the blond child with such a heartbreaking expression, such longing that it makes Naruto squirm with uncomfortableness. He has a similar look that sometimes Iruka-sensei wears when he thinks Naruto is not looking. And it feels good, he loves it. But he only ever received it from him. And the old man. And once from this ANBU masked-man that reminded him of a dog. All those times, it was still weird but he was used to it from Iruka-sensei.

And then, the man chuckles quietly.

”So much like Kushina,” he mumbles quietly to himself, and Naruto thinks he wasn’t meant to hear, so he ignores it.

The man smiles warmly at him and the smile seems familiar and it makes him want to do it back but Naruto is confused about everything so he does not.

”You do not recognize me?” He questions unsurely, a doubtful and almost hopeful look on his face.

Naruto purses his lips and stares deeply at the man in front of him. He does look familiar. He looks out his windows, but it isn’t like there was much to look at since the binds were close, but even so… Wait. Naruto glances back at the man and tilts his head, wondering. The cloak that belonged to the Fourth and even has the words written there, the blond and spiky hair that he has seen about every single day ever since he lived on the shabby apartment rather than the orphanage.

”You’re…” he starts slowly, eyes widening.

The man nods, a small grin appearing on his face. He takes a step forward but pauses when Naruto steps back.

”Yes, I am—”

”You’re pretending to be the Yondaime!” Naruto accuses, jumping right back up. “That’s illegal, believe it!”

”Huh?” The man pauses once more, his hopes and relief downing. Naruto blinks foolishly as he then senses a glooming aura surrounding the man, the elder of the two turned away and appearing quite depressed. The whole notion, while a tad funny, freaked Naruto out and he is quick to apologize which brings back the man to reality. “Oh, it’s alright,” the man sighs defeatedly.

Naruto scratches his head confusedly. “You’re really weird,” he comments offhandedly. He places one hand on his waist and stares down at the man (or upwards in his case). “So you’re not g’nna hurt me, are you? I promise I did nothing, I swear!”

Sadness appears once more on the man’s eyes and it honestly is all freaking Naruto out because why and how does this man get sad so easily?

”I believe you, Naruto,” the man says gently. He even stares at him softly. “I would never hurt you, believe that.”

Naruto still stares at him unsurely but finally lets out a nod of agreement. He furrows his brows. “Well then, who are you?”

Unbeknownst to him, those three words are such daggers for the older blond, but he covers it up quickly. Instead, the man gives his best smile and announces, “Doesn’t my cloak tell you?”

“Eh?!” Naruto yells. “But he’s dead!”

”Yes, I am,” the man agrees solemnly. Naruto almost bulges out his eyes.

”B-but— oh no,” the young blond mumbles, fear returning back into his system. Look, Uzumaki Naruto will grow up to be the bestest ninja there ever exist in the whole shinobi world, believe it! He will never give up on wanting to become Hokage nor on whatever else goals he aims for! And he will not be absolutely terrified!

Except when it comes to ghost.

”It’s because they’re right, aren’t they? I’m terrified of ghosts, this has to be a curse, that’s what sensei would say,” Naruto begins walking back and forth, gripping onto his hair. The man watches him go, face written with amusement but also confusion. That certain expression goes away after the boy mutters a word clearly heard as “monster”.

”No,” the man says aggressively which causes Naruto to stop moving. “You’re not a monster,” he states, and Naruto finds himself on disbelief as the man appears right in front of him and a fierce determination on his face. “Naruto, you are not a monster. Or a demon, or anything of the sort, understood?”

Naruto trembles just a bit, but he nods.

(He does not believe it).

The man passes a hand over his hair. “But, I guess you’re not wrong about me being a ghost,” he sighs. There’s some muttering about how he tried talking to people but was ignored. Then quickly adds, “I’m not bad! I would never hurt you. If anything, my job is to protect you, always.”

There’s a loud silence that goes between them before the man hears Naruto quietly shift and finds him sitting on his bed, eyes clearly in thought.

”So…” Naruto begins, and the man looks up at the blond. “You’re like… my guardian ghost? Is that a thing?”

The man brightens slightly. “Yes, exactly,” he agrees happily.

”Ya sure no one else can see you?” Naruto questions unsurely.

The man looks surprised as if he didn’t expect to have been heard over his mumbling (which he happens to do a lot, actually) but manages to nod. Just as Naruto is about to say more, the sound of knocking interrupts the two. Naruto jumps in surprise, his heartbeat having raised because what if they found him? But he looks at the clock on the side and calms down, just a bit.

”Guess we’re g’nna find out,” Naruto tells the man claiming to be the Fourth Hokage and he walks toward his door. The man gives him a puzzled look but stays where he is at, keeping a careful watch because he too is worried that there might be more men trying to injure the boy.

Naruto opens his door and is glad to have been right, a small genuine smile reaching his face upon being faced with his academy teacher in front of him. His sensei grins down at him as well, scar scrunched up because of it, but he looks quite happy to see Naruto. Just as he is about to speak, Naruto quickly catches him off-guard by wrapping his small hands across the chunnin’s waist, closing his eyes in relief and yeah, he might want to tear up after all that has happened but he won’t and it’s all fine because now he’s here.

”Iruka-sensei!” He exclaims, but it’s all muffled up since his face is practically hidden.

The said man chuckles warmly, his hand ruffling the blond’s hair and Naruto craves and devours the affection. “Hey, birthday boy,” Iruka greets pleasantly. “I’m certainly glad to see you too, but if you stay there longer I’m afraid the food will start getting cold.”

Naruto’s eyes shine brightly and he practically throws himself off his academy sensei. “Ramen?!” He exclaims happily, already forgetting about the whole incident from before.

Iruka brings up the two bags to show off, eyebrow raising up. “Why, of course. It’s what this big ten year old deserves. Double digits now,” the man nods as if impressed.

Naruto nods quickly. “Yup! Ten years old! That means I’m even closer to becoming a great ninja!”

Iruka laughs warmly, walking inside after Naruto moves to the side and removes his sandles. Naruto has not let his smile slip, unable to really since Iruka always makes him feel better even just with his presence. Though, he pauses for a moment since he feels like he forgot something.

”Yes, I’m still here,” says a voice that is definitely not Iruka-sensei. Naruto jumps at the sound before finally remembering. Such action, however, seems to have made the man gloomy and Naruto wonders if the man needs help because he does not think it is that normal to frequently get depressed but it might just be him.

”Oh, right,” Naruto says out loud. He wonders how he can ask if Iruka can see the ghost but before he can even conjure such a question, Iruka glances back and gives him a questioning look.

”Yes?” Iruka-sensei wonders, and Naruto blinks confusedly before realizing the man is referring to the words Naruto had let out before.

Well, that is an answer… right? Since if Iruka clearly saw the man, then he’d either have asked who and why the man was inside his apartment since he has already passed him. And for the other, Iruka hadn’t seem to have heard the man. So he’s actually a ghost! And only Naruto can see it. That is both terrifying and awesome.

”Hehe, I just remembered I…” Naruto almost trails off, before he then actually remembers something that makes him want to cry. He holds it back and instead scratches the back of his neck, his cheeks reddening as he continues, “I lost the jacket we made, sensei! It was my favorite.”

Iruka furrows his brows before making a sound of realization. He tells Naruto to wait a moment before taking out a scroll and from the scroll, a slightly damaged, but still functional familiar jacket makes view.

”I found this on my way… any idea how it got there?” He questions, giving Naruto a certain ‘please do not tell me you did something bad’ look.

Naruto scratches the back of his neck and laughs quietly. “Would you believe me if I say I don’t know how it happened?” He wonders.

Iruka lets out a fond sigh, but he doesn’t seem too upset simply curious and worried. Either way, he lets it go and instead sets up the food for them, motioning for Naruto to help as well. Naruto did not mind. He liked the feeling of being told off by Iruka because he is given attention and he knows it’s also because the man himself cares about him.

Minato is definitely not sulking. He wholly understands that apparently his son has no utter clue about who he is to him. Because, yeah, he’s the Fourth Hokage but Naruto should not know him as the Yondaime but rather as his father. And thinking about it, the whole ordeal makes sense but his son is right there and it broke his heart to see him so vulnerable and insecure and he deserves to have all the love in the world but those foolish villagers are seriously making Minato question if he was a good choice for Hokage because murder should not be on his mind for his beloved village. And he is definitely not jealous how Naruto has his whole attention to Iruka-sensei, who he knew as Umino Iruka, a younger teenager that was around thirteen or fourteen last time he saw him. 

(He definitely is).

Still, he appreciates Iruka all the same. Because looking at it now, with thoughts of how his son being at his happiest was when directed at the scarred-nose man, he can see that they have a good built relationship with each other that passes the casual student-teacher one.

But he is not sulking. Not even a bit.

”Coupons?! This is the best day ever! I have to thank Teuchi and Ayame, sensei,” Naruto yells happily, practically jumping from excitement. Iruka gently shakes his head, staring fondly at the boy at how big his heart is because despite all the excitement and exclaiming, he still has in mind to thank those that gave him such grand gift.

Minato hides a smile, recognizing the names pronounced and gaining an idea that his son must have the genetics to love ramen more than anything. Probably all having to due to his two parents. Minato enjoyed Ichiraku Ramen, and he knows very well that Kushina did as well. It is where they go each time they are able to. Or used to, at least.

“We can do that tomorrow,” Iruka calms Naruto down. He does so by placing a hand on his shoulder and Minato has never envied a person more than now because he should have been able to raise his child along with Kushina. Living back at the Namikaze household with his wife yelling at him for spoiling their son with whatever he wants and Minato gently having his hand on Naruto’s shoulder with a sheepish grin— Well, Minato supposes he might be sulking a bit.

Iruka, once Naruto smiles at him and nods and sits back down to finish his portion which was given by the chunnin knowing the blond eats more ramen than anyone else, quietly takes out a traveler fanny-pack. He pauses, as if unsure if the present is right, before he clears his throat and captures Naruto’s attention.

Naruto looks at him and tilts his head, eyes filled with curiosity.

Noticing the wide-eyed attention, Iruka chuckles awkwardly before saying, “Well, here’s my gift, Naruto.”

The young blond widens his eyes before smiling brightly and Minato makes a note to himself that although their own smiles are similar, his son’s is brighter than the sun’s light. Naruto takes the gift and quickly places it on his waist where it should be, eyes twinkling in thought and Minato recognizes a certain look from Kushina.

”Awesome,” he breathes out.

Iruka lets out a laugh. “You haven’t even opened it,” he claims, placing his hand on his waist.

Naruto stares at him brightly. “But it’s from you, Iruka-sensei! So that makes it the best,” he remarks smartly. Then, he blushes as if he did not mean to say out loud. Instead of looking at his sensei, or at the ghost but Minato has long since disappointedly accepted that he has been forgotten, Naruto opens the pack and takes out what is inside.

Minato squints his eyes before deciding that he is not seen by Iruka so he is allowed to move in closer. Well, actually—

“Naruto, may I move closer to you? I must say I am curious,” he questions his son, practically praying the boy will say his. Naruto glances up  and nods, though he does a pretty good job at not looking at Minato so Iruka does not question anything. What a smart child, Minato thinks to himself. He loves him so much.

As he moves closer, Minato notices the gifts and smiles warmly. It seems Iruka is taking Naruto seriously upon his goal toward being the best ninja. There lies some shuriken and kunei weapons, along some medical kits, and the bag itself is embroiled with the Uzumaki clan symbol. He curiously gets closer when he hears a small gasp from his son, but not so much considering Naruto takes it out and raises it up with wonder.

It is a bracelet, and though it appears simple, it is of good material and right in the middle are the initials UN. Beside that, the initials UI is listed. And there lies much more space afterwards, but Minato understands the importance of it.

”Awesome,” Naruto repeats. He scrunches his eyebrows and stares up at Iruka. “What do the letters mean, sensei?”

Iruka rubs his scarred-nose lightly before saying, “Well, the UN stands for Uzumaki Naruto.” He points at the middle and biggest, smiling at the boy. And then he moves his finger to the next. “And the UI—”

”For Umino Iruka!” Naruto interrupts excitedly.

”Oi! What did I say about interrupting?!” Iruka disciplines, smacking the back of Naruto’s head like a mother would to their son. Minato grows his appreciation for the man because it looks like the chunnin took both parts of the roles as a parent.

Naruto rubs the part where he was hit, muttering, “Ow, sensei.” Though, he does give him a sheepish look and tells him, “That it is rude to interrupt.”

Iruka nods and continues, “But you are correct. The UI stands for my name… do you know why this is branded here?”

Naruto furrows his brows, sits down, and begins thinking deeply. Minato barely holds in an ‘awe’ because that is possibly the cutest thing he has ever seen which is so odd because his son is now ten years old, but damn him since he missed all those years. The last time he saw his son he was just barely born and those whisker cheeks were the most innocent and cutest he has ever seen and it was the best part of such a horrible night.

”Well… I care about you,” Naruto says slowly. He cannot even stare at Iruka while he does so, but Iruka does not seem to mind. “But… I don’t really understand, sensei.”

”That’s alright,” Iruka consoles. “Yes, you care about me. And I care for you so this here represents our connection.”

Naruto hums in thought. “Does that mean the old man can also go here?”

Iruka grins. “Of course,” he agrees easily. “This is now yours, Naruto. Whoever you deem worthy to be your precious people have the honor to be imprinted on your bracelet.”

”Iruka-sensei, thank you,” Naruto grins.

The scarred-nose man gently ruffles the blond’s hair and it is such a paternal action Minato wishes he can tell his wife at how his son managed to gain such a supportive figure in his son’s life.

Oh, my son. You are going to be a great shinobi.

“But how are you a ghost?” Naruto wonders, staring at the Yondaime with a puzzled look. He does look exactly like the man with his face on the Hokage mountains, and there is a faded look to him like a ghost would look like, but it is still hard to believe. Especially on the idea that the Hokage would even be around a kid like him. There is nothing special about him. Well, the good kind of special because he clearly is hated all around.

The Fourth Hokage scratches the back of his neck and Naruto stifles down a small giggle because he does that and it’s a little funny that the coolest man does too. Not that he’d say that to his face.

”I’m not sure,” the man claims, awkwardly laughing. “Just happened, I suppose.”

Naruto eyes him weirdly but accepts the answer. Who is he to question him? Well, he would but he probably would not understand it. Though… he does have another question.

”Why did you save me? Back there,” he questions, voice suddenly gone quiet.

The elder blond appears taken back by the question and he stands beside Naruto, trying to form words before likely deciding to go with whatever comes to mind.

”I am unsure of how I became a ghost, but… I knew you were in danger and that I had to protect you,” the Yondaime says carefully, still looking inside of himself. He gives Naruto a small smile. “Instinct, you can say.”

Unfortunately, those words fly over his son’s head.

”I guess you are like my guardian ghost,” Naruto snickers lightly. “Thank you, anyway.” The young boy gives the elder one a curious glance. “I can’t talk to you in public and um… I do not know how to refer to you, er— sir? Lord Fourth?”

The man gives a light chuckle and Naruto swears he sees a bit of hurt but he shakes it off as nothing. Instead, the man tells him, “You can call me Minato, in private. But if that slips out then… well, let’s stick with Mikaze?”

Naruto widens his eyes before nodding slowly. “Okay… if you say so!” It is a little too close to Mizuke, one of the academy teachers that kind of scares him because he always appears way too nice when Naruto stares at him but it all fades into nothingness when he looks away and still feels him staring, though he supposes that’s the best the man is gonna offer.

Like every year, Naruto heads toward his window, opens it up and grabs whatever lies on the other side. He knows the man— Mikaze— is watching, but ignores it for the meantime. Each year, apart from Iruka and sometimes the old man, there is a present left behind by his window. Well, it started after he left the orphanage at the age of five. He would just wake up to a gift being left behind. When he was seven he realized it was someone going exactly before the tenth of October was up but they disappear as quick as they left the present. Naruto used to want to know who and why but at one point he figured they must leave it at night because they did not want to be noticed.

Naruto opens the gift and grins to himself. Left behind were some weirdly shaped goggles. It kind of reminds him of that one big boy from class. Except instead of glasses, it was a headband. Hurriedly, he puts them on and then turns toward Mikaze.

”How do I look?” He grins.

Mikaze smiles kindly. “Like an old student of mine… he wore goggles all the time. Though,” he gives Naruto a curious look, “they look good, but I recommend not wearing them when you become an actual shinobi.”

Naruto nods at his recommendation before raising the goggles up so they can rest on his forehead. “I better leave a letter then,” he decides. Ever since Iruka taught him how to write properly, he’s been leaving them behind so the person can get it.

”A letter? For who?” Mikaze asks, watching the boy grab his utensils.

”The person who left the gift behind. He does it every year, believe it,” Naruto comments offhandedly. Mikaze flutters his eyes in surprise before he shakes his head.

”I did not notice anyone come by overnight,” he thinks out loud.

Naruto snickers. “Ya sure you’re the Fourth?”

Mikaze lets out a noise of resignation. “I’ve been dead for a couple of years now,” he says defensively. And then thinks to himself how weak of a defense that is. In fact… hold on.

Naruto watches as the man closes his eyes and absolutely nothing happens. He gives him an unimpressed look.

”My chakra…” Mikaze whispers to himself. “Oh, no.”

”What about your catra?” Naruto wonders.

”Chakra,” Mikaze corrects with a wave and not even completely focused, “It seems all wired up. I’ll need time and practice to ever reach back to my original potential… seems like becoming a ghost took a lot of effort…”

”Heh, at least you have an excuse,” Naruto offers, “I suck at the whole catra— chakra?— thing. Everything comes out wrong.”

And once Naruto glanced back at the man, he absolutely regretted the words that came out of his mouth. He is pretty sure he now knows how Iruka feels when Naruto gives him the specific mischievous expression because that seems to be the feeling he is getting from Mikaze. Oh, no.

”You and I are going to have so much fun learning,” Mikaze says calmly, far too calmly that Naruto is absolutely terrified because he has— no, he knows learning will not just be about the different types of jutsus…

Oh, no, Naruto whimpers quietly on his mind. Take him back to the land of the dead.

*

Ghosts, Naruto seems to have decided, probably end up scaring people because they are bored. The day after his birthday, after having gone to say thanks to Teuchi and Ayame, was filled with Mikaze trying to cram almost two hundred years worth of history into his mind which practically bored Naruto death and avoiding a ghost is difficult because no one else can see him and he simply never goes away. Or never goes far, in other words. Though, Naruto has to admit, it isn’t so bad. He does not feel so lonely like usual.

But still slightly annoying. Unfortunately, Naruto does not say it out loud because he is positive doing so will cause the man to wilt and die of gloominess.

”I can’t talk to you during school, ‘ttebayo,” Naruto tries to convince the man who claims he would like to follow him and see his schedule for when in class. In other words, he does not want the Fourth to see how much he struggles at school academically, physically, and socially.

”Oh, that’s quite alright,” Mikaze waves off casually. Naruto believes he is doing it on purpose, and though he does not like giving up and so is not counting this as giving up but simply understanding that the elder blond is even more stubborn when it comes to some decisions, Naruto lets it go. Briefly. He will show him that he simply cannot talk and how boring school is.

Naruto quickly dresses himself up by putting on the black shirt with the red swirls on the middle and some shorts. He patted one of his plant pots of the two he has and then left through his window. Naruto ignores the sound Mikaze made and jumps over roofs. The Fourth follows close behind before he is already beside him.

”You didn’t eat breakfast!” Mikaze exclaims, sounding almost angry and in disbelief. Naruto offers him a puzzled look.

”Ya, I’m runnin’ late, ‘ttebayo,” he responds back hastily. “Plus, I have one insta ramen left and that’s for my late snack. I need the old man to give me my allowance next week.”

”Next week?!” The Fourth retorts, his tone not improving even one bit. Naruto wonders if it is normal for him to worry about an old man like Mikaze because yeah, he’s older than Naruto but he does not look too old. His emotions seem all over the place, believe it.

He takes the wise decision to not answer and focused on arriving. Once school became visible to his eyes, Naruto slows down, bypassing all the other children with their parents. It used to agonize him. It still does, but he deals with it.

Naruto closes his eyes, calming down his racing heart and places back his arms over his head as if he has no care of the world. He ignores the laughs of the rest of the kids meeting up with their friends and instead continues to his class. It is the least he can do to get there early for Iruka-sensei.

Once he runs inside class, Naruto notices a couple of kids roll their eyes at that moment, even without them having to look his way, and he huffs angrily, but says nothing. Instead, he finds way in the back of class and sits beside the open window, glancing out at the skies.

”These must be some of your classmates,” Mikaze hums thoughtfully, and Naruto continues to ignore him. The Fourth eyes him carefully before he takes a good look around. “Some of them look like their parents.”

The only clan members present are the Nara, the Yamanaka, the Hyuuga, and Uchiha. Well, if Naruto was right. His memory is not entirely the best especially when it comes to stuff he learned in class but they seem to classified as of importance more than someone like his crush, Haruno Sakura.

Mikaze snorts which causes Naruto to glance at him. He sees him staring down at a boy with pineapple hair, casually sleeping two seats away from him with his arms being used as pillows. The Fourth looks back at Naruto and tells him, “He’s definitely a Nara.”

Naruto is reminded to the day of his birthday when he spotted the said boy and he was given a wave. Shikamaru never bullied him before, but Naruto never knew what to think of him. There was once this time when they were younger… he doesn’t quite remember what, but he thinks he might have hung out with him once or twice. Naruto never brings it up because he doesn’t actually entirely remember it which is odd and all, and he doesn’t want to see Shikamaru give him the same eyes some other children do.

”Are you gonna be here the whole day?” Naruto glares to the ghost.

”Yes,” Mikaze replies easily.

Shikamaru looks up from his nap and glances curiously at Naruto. “Only if I can sleep all day,” he answers. Naruto stiffens up but the other boy ignores such action and continues staring, as if trying to figure him out. “You alright?”

Naruto frowns, turning his head away. “Yeah, ‘m fine,” he responds back. He bites his lip before adding, “Sorry. Bad night, ya know?”

The Nara squints slightly before shrugging. “No, but whatever. Explains why you aren’t pranking anyone.”

”Pranking?” The ghost in the room asks.

He goes ignored. The gloomy aura comes back and Naruto grimaces. Shikamaru does not, but his eyebrow does twitch as if he feels something wrong but not sure what.

Instead, Naruto lets out one of his loud laughs and scratches his cheek. “Promised Iruka-sensei I’d be good today, believe it!” He exclaims, returning back to the normal facade he puts on for everyone. Well, it’s not really much of a facade but he does try to always exaggerate.

It gives him attention. Even if not all entirely good.

Shikamaru groans slightly, “…I believe you.” And then promptly goes back to laying down on his arms, eyes closed and breaths even.

Naruto thinks he’s going to die, but he grins happily. Shikamaru believes him! He thinks to himself, and it gives him comfort the same way it does when Iruka and even the cool Fourth Hokage has told him. The effort the Nara boy gives is incredibly small, but it means a lot for a boy like Naruto overwhelming him with excitement but also knowing his excitement can cause chaos and loudness and being yelled at, so instead he also places his head down and tries doing the same as Shikamaru.

”You’re going to sleep?” Mikaze questions abruptly, staring down curiously at the boy. Naruto does not answer. Having matched his breathing with the boy seating two seats away, he was long gone into dreamland. The Fourth Hokage gapes silently, calling out the boy’s name in order to wake up, and it all fails. “Oh, great,” he sighs.

The two boys only ever wake up when Iruka-sensei finally realize the two boys are sleeping when class has already started and he places down a large book in between them, an annoyed but silently fond look on his face. Mikaze watches as the Nara is separated of being partners with the boy named Chouji, who he believes to be the son of Akimichi Choza, and instead placed with Naruto. And though Naruto looks guilty over the placement, the Nara boy does not seem to mind as much and lazily work together.

Mikaze smiles to himself. He has a lot of work for him before he can teach Naruto jutsus like how he knows the boy would rather want, but… he’s a father. And he’ll damn well do his best beside his son. Even if it means he’ll listen to the lessons they’re learning for a couple of days before he finds a way to force his son to listen on his own.

At the least, he has been given a chance. And he will gladly take advantage of it all. For Kushina, and for Naruto himself.

Chapter Text

Naruto runs crazily, jumping from one roof to the other and hastily avoiding being captured by the shinobi after him. He laughs loudly and with buzzing excitement at being chased giving him such adrenaline that he cannot help but prosper lively. The orange jacket that everyone seems to hate had helped him blend against the orange sky. All he had to do was wait for the sunset when the sky was the most orange and though orange is such a bright color to wear, not only is it Naruto’s favorite color to exist, it also allows him to blend with the sky’s shade. Blonde hair bright as the sun, orange clothing that shadows the light. It all makes sense at the end.

Naruto adds some more pressure to his speed, lightening the force of his steps to smooth out the run, and flees further. In a moment of quickness, he pushes himself to the side and rolls over with absolute silence. He waits a minute or two before running back, this time heading back to the Hokage Mountain. Naruto sits on top of the Yondaime’s head and rests his head on his knees. Eyes closed, heavy yet small breaths, and small hands hugging himself.

Mission accomplished.

A grin appears on his face and he raises a fist over his head completely filled with success.

”Good work,” a voice interrupts his thoughts wryly, sitting down beside the blond boy.

Naruto whips his head toward the new presence and scowls when he sees the ghost that has been following him for a year, going on and on about the lessons he should have learned from the academy previously and basic skills concerning on how to properly throw/use weapons and actually fix his stance that apparently was taught wrong by Mizuki-sensei. It is not that Naruto does not like him. On the contrary, he happens to like him a lot. But… he awaits the day for when the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato will decide to leave him. Properly. Maybe he will haunt another kid that he decides is better. Like Sasuke. Naruto’s rival.

And also, he’s afraid of disappointing him. The exam that determines whether Naruto will graduate to become a genin or not will occur in a few months and Naruto has already failed two other times. Once when he was eight, the other when he was ten (and he did so without actually telling Mikaze about it) and now he will take it at twelve years old. He is eleven now, of course, but soon. His powers are at the lowest in class, and those lessons that Mikaze gives him is applied in his head but apparently nothing can save him from being dead last. And also according to the Fourth, it might as well be an ongoing lesson of deception. He knows stuff, but does not reveal it to class.

He still sucks at jutsus. Except for one certain one he is currently perfecting, but he does so without the Fourth’s supervision.

If he fails, Naruto fears he will not become a ninja and he cannot let that happen. He will become a ninja no matter what, believe it! He would just really appreciate if he can pass so he can show Mikaze that he did in fact learn from him.

(That he should not be replaced by another kid).

”I was really worried when I didn’t see you home,” Mikaze brings up casually, choosing his words carefully. “Thought something had happened to you, until I overheard some of the ANBU at work and of your grand painting.”

Naruto shifts from his place, dusting off the dirt from his orange joggers and still firmly does not look at the man beside him.

”Pretty impressive to have successfully flee from the chunnin and ANBU guards,” the elder blond continues, trying to figure out what is wrong with the small eleven year old. “Naruto?”

”Leave me alone,” Naruto snaps. “They’re the dumb ones and aren’t fast at all.”

Mikaze frowns, tilts his head and then shakes it. “Now I know something is wrong. You wanna tell me what? Come on, kid. I won’t tell anyone,” he jokes. And yet the words are all real.

“Nothin’s wrong.” And the boy scoots further way from the man.

The Fourth Hokage stays quiet, thinking to himself over what could have Naruto all worked up. From what he has seen, when kids are worked up, they take it out on others or the situation itself. His eyes land to the place he is sitting. He did manage to see the artwork Naruto displayed for everyone to see. The First Hokage has grown shadows over his eyes, making him appear gloomy for a man such respected. The Second Hokage has blue painted all over, and a somewhat cool design of a lightning bolt. Not so bad compared to the fact that the Third has red all over his nose like if he were a pervert. And lastly, his own face has x’s on his eyes and a frown drawn directly on it probably to make fun of how his mood depletes (usually whenever he gets sad thinking about how his son does not know him and such).

So, the Hokage and school. School being a reason since that is exactly where his son should be and he is of course missing the material.

What do those two have to do with each other?

And then—

“You want to be Hokage, don’t you?” Mikaze questions softly, a sudden realization written on his face. Oh, he knew very well that the boy would shout those words on the top of his lungs and he never doubted them, but clearly something along those lines are bothering him.

”I want to be respected and prove to everyone that I will be a great ninja,” Naruto finally responds.

Mikaze nods, “I see.” He scratches the back of his neck. “I don’t doubt that you won’t become Hokage, you know?”

Naruto, eyes wide and in shock, turns to look at him. His lips placed in a thin, hopeful line. Always so full of doubt because of the village’s view about him.

”But… you should also know that being or wanting to be Hokage is more than about what the title gives you,” Mikaze warns. He looks out onto the open where he can see the whole village, his village. The one that he sacrificed his life for and even had his own son’s affected by the need to protect everyone. He senses Naruto’s curiosity and continues, needing his son to know what being Hokage entitles, “I had the same dream as you, also for respect and to prove that I am capable, but mostly, because I love this village. It is my home and I believe Iruka has mentioned this to you, but the Will of Fire in this land is greater than anywhere else. The village is my family, and I would and have protected my family even at the cost of my own life.”

”The Leaf… it’s precious to you,” Naruto comments after a while of those words having been processed inside his mind, likely embedded there forever.

The elder blond smiles warmly and agrees, “Yes. The village, the people, you are precious to me. And I knew I wanted to become Hokage so I can be seen as the Leaf’s protector. Do you understand?”

Naruto stares off at the village itself and a small smile also grows on his face, eyes filled with his own longing. “Yeah,” he sighs wistfully, “I understand.”

A fierce determination grows on his face afterwards. “And even though they do not have faith in me, I’ll never give up on them! Believe it!”

Mikaze grins, standing from his place and then placing a gentle hand on his son’s hair. Or, on top of it since his hand cannot physically touch him which is something he has been trying to work on (his chakra still not at its full capacity and the most he has figured out is that it works the same way he used to be able to see the world from inside the seal: with strong emotions except this time from himself). Naruto stares up at him in surprise before grinning back.

”I believe you,” the Fourth says, and mentally adds the word ‘son’ at the end. “Now, I know you have the genin exams coming up in a few months. Since it’s almost lunch, I’m sure Iruka will try and come and find you and you’ll let yourself endure such punishment for having worried him—” he hears a groan coming from the boy but ignores it, “—and once school and your punishment ends, we will start focusing on what the testing will be on: written, weaponry, taijutsu, and the three basic level academy trained jutsus.”

Naruto’s eyes brighten almost immediately and he jumps up excitedly. “Really?! Old man Mikaze you’re the best, believe it!”

Mikaze laughs before a gloomy aura overwhelms him, mumbling to himself, “Old man? I’m still physically on my twenties, aren’t I?”

Naruto awkwardly chuckles, trying to apologize over the gloominess of the Fourth Hokage’s expression.

”…okay, it’s fine. Let’s do the transformation jutsu first then,” Minato offers, voice filled with confusion because from what he remembers, the clone jutsu is supposed to be the easiest. Along with the transformation one where one fakes an appearance of someone else. Sort of like a gengutsu instead, but on the whole figure themselves instead of the surroundings. Except, Naruto completely failed to create a clone. Or well actually, he did create two clones, but all completely… melted.

Naruto frowns before nodding slowly, pink forming on his whiskered cheeks but Minato can see his obvious determination. Minato shows him the correct steps, asking Naruto to explain the reasons why (and though he had many pauses and the wording was a tad confusing, his son got the jest of it) and then letting him copy his hand motions.

”Transform!” Naruto exclaims, hands in their correct place as he imagines himself to the figure he wants to appear as.

Minato winces briefly once Naruto reveals himself as a deformed Umino Iruka, his scar bigger than anticipated, height still the same as his son’s instead of the actual adult. Frankly, it truly is a mess, and Minato cannot fanthom on why. Perhaps his son does not have good chakra control?

”I never get this right!” Naruto complains, returning back to his original state. He places his hands onto his head and yanks some of his spiky hair causing Minato to frown, but he cannot blame him for his frustration. The hand signs were correct, so that was not it. “But my henge I can do with ease and it looks even better, believe it!”

Yeah, he probably is right— Minato narrows his eyes, repeating back the words his son just said.

”Your henge?” He questions confusedly.

Naruto nods and a mischievous grin reaches his face. “Yeah! Wanna see?” His eyes are lightened up the same way Kushina’s used to do when she went along with an unusual prank to one of her bullies, when she was about his age. Minato is not sure whether to say yes or not, but it doesn’t matter anyway. “Sexy jutsu!” His son cries out. And hold up, what?

A blast of chakra surrounds his son, almost creating a sphere like barrier while smoke appears on the sides, covering whatever Naruto is transforming into. The smoke is clearing off and—

And Minato’s mouth drops open.

Instead of his son in front of him, there is an older than Naruto, younger than Iruka female with blonde hair, some whisker cheeks, and clouds surrounding areas where private parts are intended for and Kushina is going to kill Minato.

Because that is his son.

And he is a girl.

A nude girl.

Have mercy, Minato prays. Kushina is going to kill us both.

Naruto turns back to normal, a disappointed look back on his face. “Aw, man. It didn’t work on you!” He whines, a huge pout on his face. His cheeks puff up and he mumbles, “Well, it work on that stuck-up landlord.”

Minato hears a high-intensity sound in his ear because what. His eyebrows scrunch and he knows he is angry because what did Naruto mean when he says it worked on the landlord?

”Er— Mikaze? Are you… okay?” Naruto asks hesitantly.

He forces himself to relax because he wants to yell at his son and hide him forever but he also has learned that his son has taken care of himself for years and if he suddenly yells he will lose his trust and make him freak out. So he takes a deep breath and pauses. And then another.

”Naruto,” Minato says calmly. He figures his calmness is still somewhat terrifying Naruto because he can see how stiff his son is. “Please, do not use that technique. There… are perverted… people who would gladly take advantage of it. And… while the jutsu may work as a diversion… you cannot depend on it.”

Because truthfully, the technique might actually be useful if the fact is knowledge that the men or women they are after are perverted and fall for this trick. Not all, of course. But many or some would. But there is no way that he will allow his son to show this off randomly, especially in front of the public.

”Why?” Naruto wonders.

Well, for one, your mother would kill me, Minato thinks to himself in distraught. Honestly, she still might once he sees her again one day.

”Not everyone is affected, right?” Minato says carefully.

Naruto shrugs, “You weren’t. It worked on others.”

I will not kill anyone, Minato repeats. And now that one is on him. He will find those men and… Oh, Jiraiya-sensei better never find this out.

”I guess that makes sense,” Naruto adds after a while of thinking over Mikaze’s previous words. “But… see! That’s easier to do than changing to Iruka like how he and Mizuki-sensei taught us!”

…Easy? Minato blinks, once and then twice and then back to normal. He gives his son a thoughtful look and places his hand on his chin. “Can you do it again? With clothes,” Minato questions, trying to see if his theory is right.

Naruto nods, performs the hand signals and instead of saying ‘sexy jutsu’ simply says ‘henge’ and the same girl as before is revealed, except this time she has clothes on that appear similar to what that one pink-haired girl from his class wears though slightly bigger since his son added bigger breasts and an older figure. Minato wonders if that is how his daughter would look if he had one, or if Naruto had been born a girl.

Minato furrows his brows and stares directly into his son’s eyes. “Naruto… is this… body real?”

”Well, yeah,” his son agrees. He looks confused by the question. “I think if I try to imagine Iruka I can also do him, but when I asked if it could be like a physical change he laughed ‘cuz apparently that’s not possible or would require lots of chakra.”

Uzumaki clan, Minato reminds himself. Kyuubi, he also adds. Chakra powerhouse.

”I… think I know why you’re having trouble,” Minato laughs awkwardly. Naruto tilts his head clearly wanting to know more. He holds up a finger as if asking him to wait and then orders, “Try the substitution one. Remember—”

He shows him the necessary hand signals and then motions for Naruto to do the same. His son does as asked, and it works. Minato widens his eyes a bit before smiling at the accomplished look on his son’s face.

”I did! That was easier than the rest,” Naruto exclaims happily.

”You know, Naruto,” Minato chuckles lightly, “the substitution jutsu is meant to be the hardest of the three.”

Naruto’s eyes basically bulged out. “Whaaat?”

Minato smiles and he is happy to see that Naruto knows exactly what type of smile it is as he spots his panic. He confirms his son’s suspicion as he says, “We will focus completely on chakra control. Leaf on forehead, tree-walking, and water-walking.”

Naruto cools down.

”Along with the reason why,” Minato adds, and Naruto deflates.

His son dramatically turns to the side and mumbles, “More learning.…”

The Fourth Hokage rolls his eyes fondly, staring at Naruto with a curious expression. He should not be surprised his son has a great amount of chakra. Perhaps even more than Kushina ever had even though she too was an Uzumaki and had the Kyuubi sealed inside her. The Kyuubi that now is inside his son. Sealed by him. Guilt spirals inside Minato, reminded of the weight he has placed on his son. It is his fault that his son is hated. He wanted him to be known as a hero. To be… recognized and cherished for his continuous effort to hold such monstrous beast.

And his son does not even know why the village calls him such awful words. He… doesn’t know. Minato begins to feel even more awful, wondering, hoping against all of his son believes he is the demon.

”Naruto…” he whispers, distraught written clearly. His son, who wore a happy expression, removes his current expression and stares at him with worry.

”Mikaze…?” Naruto questions softly, quieter than usual. Minato does not respond because he needs to tell him. But how does he tell him about how he… he is the one that is making him suffer. “Minato?”

Minato stiffens. That is the first time his son has ever called him by that name. He always call him by the fake name of Mikaze, saying it was for the better because he always messes up names and if he were to say both he’d probably say his real one accidentally. In another world, he would be called ‘dad’ instead. Maybe also in this one— but not yet. Not that.

But yes on the Nine Tails.

”I’m sorry, Naruto,” Minato begins, and his son immediately reacts, his eyes revealing a look of hurt and it pains the elder blond. His son, who loves so easily but not completely trusts and yet he has that trust even though he hasn’t been completely honest but he has to on this. One closer to the truth.

Naruto wearily scoots away and sits down, giving him a careful glance. “Hehe, about what?” He mentions, trying to soothe himself out. A fake laugh.

Minato takes a deep breath, and then the words come out, “On October 10th, the day I died, the Nine Tails fox was on a rampage. As of now, people have claimed that I killed the beast and became a hero… others, they said something that is not true.”

His son stares at him wide-eyed. Figuring it out, most likely. October 10th. The words the villagers throw at him.

Demon. Monster. Murderer. Beast.

”I could not kill the Nine Tails,” Minato reveals. He wants to look away from his son, but knows it is better not to. “One cannot kill a Tailed Beast. But it could be sealed if one has the knowledge to. And I wish I hadn’t… now especially that I see the results, but there weren’t many options. No other children… no— I’m so sorry, Naruto.”

His son stands up and he backs away, eyes blinking fast and harshly. Minato gets down on his knees and bows his head.

”I’m sorry,” he repeats. “It’s my fault. For all those villagers, for the suffering that you went through… it’s because of me.”

There lies such a loud silence in the air that Minato can hear the unsteady breaths of them both, the way the plant that Naruto always waters is being shifted by the winds of the outside territory. The lights flickering, unsurely.

And then—

Naruto walks forward, tears in his eyes, and Minato is in great emotional turmoil of guilt and sadness because it’s all fault that his son is suffering. His entire fault for—

Minato groans and falls back in pain, holding onto his stomach because his son punched him and that punch had chakra strength practically thrown at him. Not likely on purpose and most likely having to do with his son’s emotions, but he punched him and… huh.

He felt it.

Oh, right.

Emotional turmoil.

Minato groans once more and nods, “I deserve that.”

He stays down. Naruto steps closer, but he doesn’t punch him again like how he expects him to. Instead, he helps Minato sit up. By the time he finishes, Naruto can no longer feel him and Minato is once more a full ghost.

”I-I forgive you,” Naruto says quietly, after sitting back down. He scratches his cheek. “It hurts, ya know. But… you did it for the village. Because you love the village and I-I can’t be angry ‘bout that, ‘ttebayo. This village’s g’nna be mine soon and I’ll protect it. Even from myself.”

Minato loves his child so much. He knew that since the minute he was born— even before that. But his son truly is the best of both Kushina and himself. In time, he will surpass them. And Minato cannot wait for that day. He gives Naruto a small smile filled with love.

”I know you will, Naruto,” Minato responds back in the same tone. “You are going to be amazing, and you will show everyone that you are Uzumaki Naruto. Not a demon, or anything else.”

Naruto slowly regains back his grin. “Ya! That’s right! My name is Uzumaki Naruto and I’m going to be Hokage, believe it!” His fist goes up in the air and Minato laughs, eyes smiling as well. Naruto scratches the back of his neck and then adds, “But can we get back to training? Ya know, the whole chakra exercises so I can finally do awesome jutsus!”

”Oh,” Minato remembers, “right. Well, let’s start with you showing me if you can do the leaf exercise.”

”Of course I can do it—”

Filled with exhaustion, Naruto finds sleep easily. His eyes close and he became a goner. But then they open, and the sound of water dripping fills his ears so he frowns. His feet are getting soaked, oddly colored water splashing around him completely filled up and inch or so. A growl heard so close, Naruto believes wholeheartedly that it definitely is not his stomach.

”…hello?” He calls out, following the sound with small steps. Naruto still cannot walk on water. The most he had been able to show Mikaze had been the leaf exercise with success and a punctured tree by one of the empty training grounds. He keeps using too much chakra and so he spent the rest of the day, apart from answering some of his private sensei’s questions, trying to climb up. He did manage to go up a few steps, but not enough to be successful.

The sound of growling increases with each step and his call seems to have anger whatever lies ahead. Naruto stops, wondering if he should continue, but he is also not someone that backs down on what they were doing, so he ignores the weird feeling in his stomach and continues on.

His mouth falls opens slightly, one step going backwards once his blue eyes see what lies front of him. A huge beast with red fur, red-slit eyes, and a demonic presence behind it.

The Nine Tails Fox. The demon that the Fourth Hokage had sealed within him. The one that killed many people and almost destroyed the village.

”You…” Naruto voices, completely caught off guard.

And the beast growls once more, “So the brat has come to visit.”

”You’re…” Naruto cannot seem to find the courage to finish. The Nine Tails fox smiles with its sharp teeth, eyes angry and filled with hate. It makes Naruto feel horrible, makes him want to beg Mikaze to help him.

”Foolish,” the fox laughs maniacally. Its red eyes stare at Naruto with disgust. “Why don’t you move closer?”

Naruto takes full offense to that and begins exclaiming, “Eh?! I’m not an idiot, dattebayo! You think I don’t know what you’re doing, huh? Well too bad because I’m not falling for it, you big dumb fox!”

His face pales slightly as he lets his mind catch up with the words spilled. Look, Naruto does not know how it happens, but it happens sometimes.

”LEAVE,” the Nine Tails growls, standing from its position and immediately heading for the iron bars as if he can escape easily. Naruto does not believe so, but he definitely does back away in a hurry, eyes widened. There is too much anger, too much hate that it wants to suffocate Naruto. “I’m going to kill you once I escape. You and everyone else.”

Naruto closes his eyes, hoping if he hopes or prays that he can leave out of there. Why did he have to see that fox that destroyed so many lives, including his own? He hears it begin to laugh, as if recognizing his thoughts, and Naruto then has an awful thought of his own.

Can he hear me?

”I’m always here,” the fox laughs evilly once more. “Coming for you, the jailor, and for that ghost.”

Oh, shit. Naruto begs his mind or wherever he is to wake up, or get out. Whatever it is so he can get out of there because what the fuck?!

Naruto wakes up early on the morning, sweat dripping on the side of his head, and feeling more restless than the day before. He never managed to get out of whatever prison the fox is in. Not that he spent the whole time with him, but he had been able to hear the growls and wicked laughter and occasionally some taunts.

And while he enjoys having an understanding on why the village hates him, he cannot help but mentally curse Mikaze because now that he is aware of the fox, that damn thing is all he can think about for the meantime.

Nara Shikamaru acknowledges that he is a lazy kid, a perk of belonging to his clan since his dad seems to be the same way whenever given the chance. He does not like trying, thinking of it useless, and he prefers sleeping over listening to the lessons that Iruka-sensei and Mizuki-sensei give. Nothing really interests him much and he prefers having detention instead of doing actual work. It is only ever when his mom begins to complain or threaten to hit him when he actually does stuff, but it is all forced really. Otherwise, then it is a drag and wastes too much energy. Not even Chouji can make him do stuff and he does not even try either way, rather preferring to eat any snacks he comes across with.

Like he said, nothing much interests him. Well, nothing except one frankly loud and bright Uzumaki Naruto. A small kid his age that always sits nearby him and happens to get along with him well enough to ditch with him or even not mind spending time with when it comes to going out to see some stands. He remembers one partially day where all three (meaning him, Naruto, and Chouji) had spend the day around the Leaf Village because of some festival.

One time he asked his father why Naruto was always given such ugly looks, and his father had responded back by asking whether he liked the kid or not. Shikamaru simply answered that he did not mind him and thought he was funny (and annoying) but overall a good kid. And then his father told him he should have his own opinion of Naruto which… he already did. But the villager’s views on him interested him, and soon enough, that interest simply became Naruto himself. After the day when Iruka-sensei forced him to work with Naruto, Shikamaru unintentionally decided to at least be acquainted with the boy. He did not plan to actually try and become his friend, mind him, but apparently just trying to be kind earn him a point in his favor very slowly and now well—

“I don’t get it,” Naruto groans, and he scoots to be seated directly next to Shikamaru. He who had his head down on his arms and hoped no one would talk to him since Chouji had warned him the day before that his father was going to take him to a clan meeting so he can get a small jest of it.

Then again, this is Naruto.

Shikamaru raises his head and places his chin on his arm, head slightly turned toward the blond and only one eye open debating whether he should actually help or not. If it is anything involving the lesson Iruka-sensei is going on about, he is definitely going back to sleep. His one eye glances down at the paper Naruto is probably being forced to read and then he blinks.

Huh, he hums thoughtfully, so he did not imagine that. Naruto has down a piece of paper with his own writing, something having to do with chakra levels. Shikamaru never would imagined that the blond boy would actually be reading or writing notes regarding anything school related. Also, isn’t this something they learned a while back? Why is Naruto going back to it? A small scowl grows on his face. See, Naruto always manages to find a way to make him use his head more often than not like if he were a puzzle needing to be solved and every time Shikamaru thinks he has it done, another piece is added.

Troublesome blond, he curses silently.

”Get what?” He indulges, and really it is all an act of surrender.

Naruto perks up making Shikamaru prepare himself to get an earful, mentally asking why he had to make friends with a boy like Naruto but also secretly not regretting it no matter how tiring it is.

”The higher the chakra preserves a person has, the harder the control, right?” Naruto questions, and Shikamaru says nothing likely figuring it’s rhetorical since he does not even give him time to speak. The blond continues as usual, “So if one completes all the chakra control exercises, then they can have most control of their chakra. But what if even after all that, they still can’t do the jutsus they were having trouble with?”

Shikamaru should just ignore him and continue on with his life, take a nap where he imagines he is elsewhere and maybe even just cloud-watching outside with no one to bother him. He sighs, because he knows that will not happen. Especially not with Naruto having a look of curiosity on his face and really, since when did Naruto care about this stuff?

Damn him, really.

”That is a good question,” Shikamaru finally responds. He pauses, trying to find the answer because in reality, it is a good question. At least, not one that Shikamaru has thought of before. He just accepted the fact that having good chakra control will help in completing jutsus. Well, except the Jounin-level or hard ones because those require a ton of chakra and even someone with amazing chakra control are not able to do something like the Shadow Clone jutsu. It is simply almost impossible or completely draining to make a clone; hence, the simple Academy clone jutsu is the best many can come up with. It helps with tricking people, certainly.

He positions himself upwards and lays back on his chair, a thoughtful look on his eyes. Shikamaru appreciates how Naruto, while looking impatient, does not bother him as if he understands that the Nara truly is thinking about his question and wants to give him a chance to think. Cute, he thinks, and then regrets that thought the moment afterwards.

”I’ll say that maybe it works the same as the opposite,” Shikamaru answers. At the blank face Naruto is giving him, he did not understand what he just said. Well, at least that is still normal. For a moment he was afraid his friend was going to become a secret genius and yes, Naruto is smarter than he looks and acts, but he’s no genius. All meant to say in a good way.

He purses his lips before trying again, “Okay, so you know how shinobi with low chakra level can get their chakra drained if they do a high-level jutsu?”

Shikamaru waits for Naruto’s nod, and then continues when he sees it, “Good. Now, think of it this way. If I were to do some Hokage level jutsu, I’d either die or my chakra would be drained afterwards. Except, now let’s change it up. If someone with high chakra levels were to do a jutsu that requires only a minimal amount of effort, then the person would use the chakra they have and it’s all good— but the jutsu is then overloaded. So it fails.”

Naruto furrows his brows, frowns, and thinks to himself and yet Shikamaru can see when he figures it out as his face clears and a look of realization falls within.

”Oh! Mmh, interesting,” Naruto mumbles. Shikamaru watches as he blindly and casually scratch his whisker-marks. He used to think they were tattoos, but he’s had them since a baby, probably. A frown appears on his own face as now he wants to ask. Before he can, Naruto turns toward him and Shikamaru is struck by those bright blue-eyes. “Hey, you wanna come with me after school?”

”Yeah,” Shikamaru agrees instantly. Troublesome blond, he cannot help but think. Why has he agrees so hastily? Darn it, Naruto.

And yet, Naruto grins so brightly and Shikamaru has to squint his eyes. Such a genuine smile… why do people look at him in disgust? He happens to like Naruto, despite all common sense.

His face begins to pale, and Shikamaru regains back Naruto’s attention to say, “Actually, would you like to come to my house? My dad will be picking me up, and mom would kill me if I left without warning her first.”

Naruto’s face pales a bit and so he adds, “They’ve been dying to meet you.”

”Well…” Naruto laughs, though a bit awkwardly, “alright, then. If you’re sure…”

Shikamaru offers him a quick shrug. “It’d be a drag if I weren’t,” he responds warily. And before there can be any more conversation taking place, Shikamaru places his face back on his arm, eyes closing and easily falling back asleep.

A hand slaps onto the table and Shikamaru groans himself awake, his eyes meeting up to look right at Iruka-sensei’s. What a drag…

When he asked Shikamaru for help, he had not expected to be invited over his house. Naruto cannot help but feel nervous, not sure whether the Nara’s parents would be kind or not. Some parents had warned their children to stay away from him and for a long time Naruto did not know why but now… now he knows. And he cannot blame them, but it still hurts. Would Shikamaru’s parents also throw him out? Force the boy to stop being friends with him?

Suddenly, Naruto craved for Mikaze-sensei’s presence and it surprised him a little. He had been the one to offer the elder blond to have the day off, or other words, to go and have time to explore the man’s village. Not that he has not, but Naruto had said in tough words that the man ‘did not have to follow him everywhere, ya know?’.

Naruto lets Shikamaru go on outside first, claiming he wanted to ask Iruka-sensei something, but instead he waits in his seat and ponders. On one hand, he hopes the Nara decides that Naruto is not worth it and that he leaves while he still can. On the other, Naruto wants him to still be there, waiting patiently or even lazily with his father and none of them truly minding. He pouts, lip twisted upside down briefly before he lets out a sigh and stands.

His eyes travel from children to parent, heart crying out in want before realizing these past months he had not felt such way. He seems to have reassure himself the presence of the Fourth Hokage being that of a paternal-sensei figure. Naruto cannot help but wonder when that man had become such thing. He ignores the thought as he finds the Nara men, the two still there and

and they are waiting.

Quietly, and with similar appearances.

But waiting.

So he goes.

Naruto smiles widely, ignoring the loud beatings of his heart and exclaims, “Hiya, I’m Uzumaki Naruto— the future Hokage!”

Shikamaru’s father looks down at him, and for a moment he is scared hearing the words ‘get out of here’ ‘don’t poison my son’ ‘you should have died’ will come out of his mouth. Naruto flinches, expecting it. Those words never come and he risks a look at the man’s face. It is curious and a little saddened behind the eyes, but not filled with hate or disgust. The elder Nara raises his eyebrow slightly and says amusingly:

”Hokage, huh?” Shikamaru’s father repeats, not sounding mean about it. “You have one hell of a road in front of you then.”

The words… Naruto almost freezes, almost decides to want to cry because maybe not all the adults are incredibly horrible. Maybe there are more like Teuchi, or Iruka, or the old man, or Mikaze. Men who believe when he says those words, knows that he is being serious despite how young he is and how, in the words of a Nara, troublesome he can be. He does not, of course.

”Well, kid,” the leader of the Nara clan hums, “Feel free to call me Shikaku. Any friend of Shikamaru’s that can make Yoshino’s whining stop is an automatic likening.”

There’s a wry look on his face, but he sounds fond when pronouncing his wife’s name.

”Man, she’s gonna be mad I didn’t tell her beforehand,” Shikamaru groans. He defiantly ignores his father’s chuckles and runs over his face, muttering, “Troublesome woman.”

The two boys went a little ahead from the older man with Shikamaru leading the way to his house, the rather known lazy one simply listening to Naruto’s rambling about one of the pranks he pulled on one of the other sensei from the Academy. And Shikamaru looks surprised, not having heard the story before which is surprising because Naruto tends to reveal himself as the mastermind and yet…

Once they arrive at the Nara’s compound, Naruto pauses outside for a moment, eyes completely astounded by where Shikamaru lives. He twirls around slowly, careful with his steps, and likely an awed look on his face. His apartment has no comparison over such beauty. His space being only big and stable enough for him to live in.

”Come on,” Shikamaru encourages, walking back toward Naruto and even deciding to hold the blond’s hand to drag him inside. Naruto widens his eyes in surprise at the contact, but lets his friend do as he wishes. It is not always a Nara like Shikamaru tends to put effort into something. “Mom, I’m home and with a friend!”

Naruto immediately hears some pots colliding with each other and hurried steps coming their way. A beautiful woman, though with a permanent stern look on her face, enters Naruto’s view. She wears an apron over her normal clothes, and for a moment Naruto believes her to be a civilian, but then he remembers Mikaze’s words of ‘look underneath the underneath’. That is when he starts to see sign of a shinobi life. The spatula she carries, almost held wistfully like one would a dagger. Her eyes calculating and thoughtful, as if analyzing the situation. Naruto knows not to underestimate her immediately afterwards. But, still, he sees the similarities Shikamaru has gained from her.

Because the boy beside him looks almost exactly like a young version of his father, but he has the same headline as his mom and when he scowls, it kind of also looks like the one his mom is currently wearing. Directed straight at Shikamaru himself. His mother smacks the back of his head and Naruto winces, thinking back to all the times Iruka-sensei had done the same thing.

”Hello, there!” The dark-haired woman who Shikaku had called Yoshino exclaims, attitude changing to an upbeat one. She practically zooms in close to the blond and has stars in her eyes. “Oh, Shika! You never told me how cute your friend is,” she gushes, grabbing Naruto’s hand and dragging him inside.

Shikamaru groans slightly, but a small rests in his face while he side-eyes his mother and Naruto. His father reaches his side, arms crossed.

”Seems like a good kid to me,” Shikaku comments quietly, making sure the words only  reach his son. Clearly, referring to the time his son asked him about the blond. Shikamaru nods in agreement.

The young Nara finds a way to remove Naruto from his mother’s hold, calling out, “We’re gonna hang out!”

”You two better come back in time for dinner,” Shikamaru’s mother warns strictly, hands placed on her waist. Shikamaru gives a small wave without looking back and he feels a small killing intent making him know he will definitely be getting another hit the minute he gets back or once Naruto leaves so she does not scare him off.

Naruto scratches the back of his neck, laughing quietly. “Your parents are nice,” he comments.

”They just happen to like you,” Shikamaru notes wryly. He lets Naruto lead the way to wherever he plans to take him. Hopefully somewhere where he can lay down, watch the clouds, and sleep.

They reach a clear field, and Shikamaru instantly does what he does best. Naruto gives him a crooked grin before he stands firmly, a determined look on his face. The Nara instantly knows the blond requires his attention.

”What is it?” Shikamaru asks. Hopefully it can be over soon and he’ll sleep.

”Well— ya know how the Genin exams are coming up?” Naruto clears his throat, blush forming on his cheeks. Shikamaru nods. He knows he is one of the last students, along with Inuzuka Kiba and Naruto himself, but he knows he will have to try on that day considering his mother would give him an earful if he were to fail without giving it a try.

Naruto scratches his cheek, and Shikamaru notes he does that in times when he is feeling nervous. Then, he remembers that the blond has already failed two times. He hides a wince.

”You see… I’ve been practicing my chakra control and well— can you help me with my Transformation jutsu?” Naruto wonders, eyes twinkling with hope. Shikamaru wants to groan once more and fixes himself upwards.

”Why not,” he gives in defeatedly. He waves a hand as if motioning for Naruto to continue on.

Naruto nods happily, doing the necessary hand signs, and transforming to Iruka-sensei once more. It happens the same as before, except this time his scar is correct, the height still wrong.

Shikamaru grimaces. “Er— well,” he tries to say, but he isn’t able to since Naruto seems to look down in disappointment and he feels a slight gloomy air. “Perhaps you should work on your chakra control first?”

The blond seems to nod. “Do you mind if I practice now? You can sleep, ya know? Even if I end up talking,” Naruto chuckles, looking a little embarrassed.

The Nara boy shrugs, “Fine with me.” And he lies back down, but he does not go to sleep. Instead, he lets his eyes close and listens as Naruto rambles on about never giving up and such dreams about the future, doing it at the same time that he practices whatever chakra control exercise he is trying to do.

It’s a little comforting, if Shikamaru’s being honest.

After some time, Naruto stops talking and though it would probably be best to then take a nap while he can, Shikamaru lets his unwanted curiosity take over and sits up. His eyes widen briefly when noticing what type of chakra control Naruto is performing. His friend does not notice him, clearly focused on the task at hand. Naruto, meanwhile, keeps a steady breath and mind, taking one step forward slowly at a time. He can already run all the way up, but Mikaze-sensei advices that to get better at chakra control, it isn’t on how fast one can complete a task, but how long and efficient it can last.

Step by step, Naruto finally reaches the top and he grins, arm raising up with a fist as he shows his excitement.

”I did it!” He cries out with the same expression of when he completed the Substitution jutsu. Naruto bites his lips. Now, it was time to get down the same way. He glances up to see Shikamaru staring at him and he smiles brightly, calling him over. “Ya can join too, dattebayo!”

Shikamaru sighs, but stands up. “You make me do a lot of stuff,” he mutters out distastefully.

”You don’t have to listen to me,” Naruto notes, looking at him with an apologetic look.

The Nara boy ignores it. “Yeah, yeah,” he waves off, and then finds his own tree and tries to think of how Naruto went up. It only lasts for a second since he figures out it works with chakra focused on the bottom of his feet.

By the time it is almost time for dinner, Shikamaru finds himself lying down by the tree he was focusing on, breaths uneven. So tired, he grunts to himself. His parents are going to be surprised when he gets back home and probably try to make him bring Naruto home every single day afterwards. What a drag…

Naruto himself does not even look like he broke a sweat, still up and going. He already knows how to go up, mind him. Now he’s trying not to fall face down when going the other way from the tree.

Though, when he sees Shikamaru already tired out, Naruto stops what he’s doing and sits beside him.

”Is that why you asked earlier?” Shikamaru asks, a knowing look on his face. Naruto gives him a puzzled one until he remembers their earlier conversation. Slowly, he nods. The Nara boy nods and then says, “Genjutsu is always incredibly difficult for someone with high chakra levels, or those without a Sharingan. And… well, the Transformation and Clone jutsu are a type of one. Not completely since the only thing that becomes an illusion is  yourself, but close enough.”

”But I need to do them,” Naruto frowns, nervously biting his lip.

Shikamaru offers him a small smile, “If there’s something I know about you, Naruto, is that you never give up. You’ll figure out a way.”

Naruto has never given Shikamaru a smile as big as the one he does now, pleased by the boy’s confidence in him. And if dinner goes by with Shikamaru’s parents looking at the two like they were stolen and became aliens (because the young Nara appears as if he did work and he looks incredibly sleepy but still polite enough to be listening to Naruto speak) and a new stronger bond having been built between the boys, then that was all fine.

Even Mikaze-sensei, when finally reappearing at Naruto’s apartment and catching up with the boy noticed that the blond looked a bit more younger and happy. He did not even complain as much when he taught him about the classes the Third Hokage used to give when he was younger.

”Last week, Shikamaru said something that made me think,” Naruto brings up, after another failed attempt of doing a clone jutsu. Acknowledging that he has Mikaze’s full attention, he continues, “I figured out how to do the Transformation jutsu, but hehe, it’s not an illusion.”

Naruto glances down, unsure if his way was correct or not. Mikaze raises his eyebrows and motions for the boy to show him.

So he does.

Mikaze laughs as Naruto transforms into the Third Hokage this time around. Naruto imitates the old man, saying something he always tells the young blond that even has the Fourth Hokage pale slightly until he remembers that it is a fake.

”Well done,” Mikaze-sensei congratulates. Before Naruto can change back, the older blond touches the fake Third Hokage and his eyes widened. “Physical? That… that is a lot of chakra used up, are you feeling okay, Naruto?”

Naruro switches back and nods. “It’s far easier than the illusion, believe it!”

Mikaze gives him an impressed look and says, “How did you figure that out?”

“It’s all thanks to Shikamaru!” Naruto exclaims, “He said that if people with low chakra levels can’t do a high level jutsu, then maybe people with high level chakra struggle with low jutsus because they overload them!”

He lets out a small pout and comments, “But I still can’t do a clone.”

An idea, not a very smart one, rises up in Mikaze’s mind. His eyes brighten immediately and he debates whether or not to show his son the trick, but— Naruto struggles incredibly so with the jutsu even though he has now succeeded in tree walking and began the steps to water-walking. He has done the required hand signals, knows the difference between small and large and yet…

”Naruto, what I am about to show you is a forbidden jutsu,” Mikaze begins, and he spots the excitement growing on his son’s eyes. “It would be dangerous for any other shinobi, especially those with low chakra levels, but I believe you will be able to do it. It’s called— the Shadow Clone Jutsu.”

”Shadow Clone jutsu?” Naruto repeats, and the words give him a chill, almost like a calling. Mikaze nods, and gives him a preview. Well, he tries. It fails. A gloomy aura surrounds Mikaze and Naruto grimaces.

”It seems I’m still struggling,” Mikaze hangs his head low, clear disappointment on his face. Naruto gives him a couple more seconds before the older man regains back his usual energy and explains, “You’re going to keep this a secret, understand? This jutsu is only written in one specific scroll, created by the Second Hokage and I’m not aiming for you to get in trouble, alright? First, we’ll learn it with you calling out its name— doing that seems to give you more energy. But once you’ve got that covered, and if your chakra points are all good, then we’ll teach you doing the move without you making it obvious that you know it unless anyone decides to fight you head on, but test examiners don’t do that so you’ll be fine.”

Naruto jumps and pumps up his fist, “Alright!”

Two hours later, the young Uzumaki manages to make Mikaze sit down in shock, the boy learning the jutsu under an hour and managing more than ten in a single try.

Mikaze chuckles worriedly, scratching the top of his head. Seems like he will also have to teach him to better his control then he’ll give the examiners a shock when conjuring more than two clones. But nonetheless, he was proud.

Naruto was going to be a great ninja, Mikaze definitely believes that.

Chapter Text

In one day, Naruto will finally tests his skills and though he acknowledges that he indeed knows enough to most likely pass, he cannot help the worry that builds up within him. The now twelve year old blond shifts from his seat, imagining himself as an older version of himself and with the power to be Hokage, protecting the village from harm and being respected and loved. His two awesome sensei’s would be beside him and supportive, one a visible man and the other a ghost none except he can see. Shikamaru and Chouji would be front of the seats along their parents, showing their own support though one more excitedly than the other and yet still very much with the same amount.

Uzumaki Naruto, the Fifth Hokage, Naruto internally sighs wistfully.

Naruto!

The crowd would cheer, finally giving him the chance to prove that he is not the demon fox they feared him to be.

Naruto!

Everyone who underestimated him would be apologizing, admiring him instead. Wishing they had treated him nice, but it is alright because Naruto can forgive them easily. They are his family after all. Each one of them will become his family to protect like the Fourth Hokage had done for them—

“Naruto!” Iruka-sensei yells, using his Big-Head Jutsu to snap Naruto awake. The blond twelve year old yanks himself upwards, instincts calling for him to draw our a kunei weapon just as Mikaze had taught him. Naruto quickly makes himself aware of his surroundings and blanches, letting his defensive stance drop and he scratches the back of his neck as he senses the amused and yet exasperated look Mikaze-sensei is giving him from behind Iruka.

Naruto clears his throat, “Hiya, sensei.”

Iruka-sensei turns his glare toward Shikamaru, who as always sits two seats away. The young Nara abruptly glances away, chin turning upwards in a similar position Uchiha Sasuke seems to have whenever Naruto begins to argue with him.

Mikaze snorts from behind and comments wryly, “I can’t blame Iruka. Ever since you became friends with Shikamaru the two of you have rubbed on each other.”

Naruto pales and silently wonders if he has gain his friend’s laziness. He side eyes Shikamaru and then wonders if he has gained his own loudness, but Shikamaru seems to be doing what he does best, falling asleep. That is, until Iruka-sensei smack both Naruto and Shikamaru himself. They snap awake (or wider in Naruto’s case) and groan, rubbing the mark in visible pain.

”Maybe if you hadn’t pranked Mizuki-sensei, Naruto, then you wouldn’t have woken up early,” Iruka-sensei remarks, giving him a stern look. He does not even bother with Shikamaru knowing the Nara needed no excuse or anything to let himself nap. He was a lazy genius, no doubt.

The blond boy sighs as he remembers what he did, snickering to himself silently knowing that is the reason Mizuki is missing class today. Mikaze had given him a disapproving look, but Naruto also saw him turn away and hide a laugh, so it wasn’t a total loss.

”You have detention for that, by the way,” Iruka reminds, and Naruto grows a face of horror.

”It’s only fair,” Mikaze hums. Naruto scowls at the ghost before glancing back at his academy teacher. Shikamaru gives him a questioning expression before deciding not to ask. He has noticed the blond do that a couple times, along with some other expressions or remarks that make him think he is talking to someone else.

Iruka-sensei turns back to the whole class announcing, “Everyone will review the Transformation jutsu because of you, Naruto!”

The whole class groans with exasperation and Naruto laughs, avoiding everyone’s gazes. Iruka gives him another glare and they all stand up, defeatedly walking toward the class and awaiting for their turn. Naruto does not mind the punishment, this one at least, since it just makes them review a jutsu before their exam tomorrow. Shikamaru does trudge his way through, however, lazily walking down the steps with only Chouji as his support.

Iruka calls Sakura up and she stands tall and still pretty though the crush of his already fading, Naruto still admires her beauty from where he is and Mikaze slowly falling to the ground with tears on his eyes. Grows up so fast, the ghost thinks to himself, grateful to have at least be witness of such. As if reading his thoughts, Naruto sends the ghost a quick glare.

”Alright, Sakura here, let’s do it!” The pink-haired future kunoichi exclaims, annoyed to have to do it in the first place, but still giving it her all. She places her hand on the correct hand signals and calls, “Transform!”

Smoke appears and clears easily, revealing another Iruka-sensei. Iruka nods, impressed by the jutsu performed by Sakura and tells her so. The pink-haired squeals from her place and turns toward the dark-haired boy who places a broody glare to anyone that even looks at him. Naruto scowls at him, not liking his attitude at all but every time he says something all the girls beat him up senseless.

It is the one Naruto claims as rival that is then called up. He goes in, arms crossed and all, and performs the jutsu perfectly. Naruto gains an even bigger scowl, eyebrow twitching in annoyance. He’ll show him, he swears to himself, and an ugly but prankster-like idea comes to mind.

“Uzumaki Naruto,” Iruka-sense calls, giving him a quick glare and a signal to hurry up.

Naruto offers him an innocent smile which makes Mikaze-sensei to look at the young blond with a suspicious expression. The kid is wearing something he has only ever seen on Kushina when she was planning something he knew was troubling.

He forms the hand signals practiced together with Mikaze, and once he saw the chakra built up outside and the familiar smoke appearing once more, Mikaze instantly gets worked up and he places himself in front of Naruto, smacking the boy from the back of his head. Naruto tumbles and breaks the chakra he built to transform into his sexy jutsu, catching his fall with his hands.

”Ow!” Naruto cries out. “What was that for?!”

Mikaze-sensei gives him a strict glare, one hand on his waist and the other pointing a figure at him as he replies, “I told you not to use that jutsu, did I not?”

And just as Naruto is about to reply, Mikaze shushes him up immediately and warns, “We’re still in front of everyone, just get up and apologize.”

Naruto blushes, remembering that he had spoken up and was in front of everyone, immediately gets up and scratches his head. He also notes silently that he must have certainly angered his ghost-sensei if the man was able to actually smack him. That sexy-jutsu of his really upsets him when he uses it which… Naruto does not mind. It’s like being disciplined by a parent.

Iruka looks at him both in confusion and perhaps a little disappointment. It kind of makes Naruto feel bad about himself, never liking to see that face from his sensei.

”Naruto…” his Academy teacher sighs.

The young blond quickly waves his hand, motioning for his sensei to wait without actually saying so before remembering what Mikaze told him to do and quickly adds, “Er— sorry. Slipped.”

Iruka gives him an unsure look, but Naruto ignores him and redoes the transformation. This time without adding the sexy bit knowing that Mikaze-sensei must have gotten angry enough to be able to slap him to stop. He hears the whispers and quiet snickering, knowing many of his classmates expecting him to fail and make a fool of himself.

But once his transformation is complete, he surprises all of those expecting different from him. Before all of them, in front of Iruka-sensei stands the man himself. Looking like the jutsu every other student created, unaware that if he were to be touched, he would not fade or have the deception removed.

”That’s… great! Good job, Naruto,” Iruka-sensei exclaims, eyes bright and clearly proud. “You did well.”

Naruto grins and returns back to his original form, not witnessing the light puzzled expression appearing on the chunin’s face when he noticed the wrinkling of his scar in Naruto’s face before it disappeared back to normal. Shikamaru smirks at his friend when the blond goes back to be beside him and then rolls his eyes at Yamanaka Ino’s scowl aimed at the brighter colored blond.

”Excellent,” Mikaze-sensei murmurs from behind, smiling softly at the boy.

After everyone went ahead and showed their transformation, and once school ended, Naruto was forced to stay. His assignment happens to be to clean the bottom of everyone’s desk and the floor until it’s all shiny. Naruto hated cleaning. And yeah, his own apartment is clean, but that happens to be due to Mikaze forcing him to clean or else he would not teach him cool jutsus when he’s older and it all becomes less suspicious.

Iruka-sensei had stayed ten minutes grading papers before he told Naruto he had an errand to run, so he’d be back quick, but Naruto had time alone. Still working, of course. He held back a groan since he did cause it to himself. In his defense, Mizuki-sensei deserves it. Unfortunately, Mikaze has told him revenge should never the answer and yeah, Naruto agrees, but… it was a little funny, so it wasn’t completely revenge, ya know?

”Are you nervous for tomorrow?” Mikaze questions, reminding the young blond that he is not alone.

Though, Naruto supposes it is now the opposite. He always expects the Fourth Hokage to be by his side, giving advice and supporting him. The initials FH is even written on his bracelet (along NS and AC and NN and IR and even a ‘?’ to represent the unknown man most likely an or had been an ANBU) to represent the ghost that lives with him.

”That obvious?” Naruto replies back hesitantly, rubbing the side of his neck.

”Not so much, but I do happen to know you,” Mikaze replies. He offers the boy a small grin and raises his hand, putting it over the blond’s head in a way that has become so familiar, so paternal that Naruto enjoys it even though he cannot feel it. He still manages to get warm chills, however. As if the world wants him to understand their unusual connection.

If Mikaze were actually alive, as in physically able to do stuff and be seen, he would take Naruto out to get ramen, paying for the horrendous amount of bowls he gets and later regretting a portion of it, but being free to do so again. Unfortunately, the Fourth Hokage is still dead and still a ghost and he can go with the boy to get ramen but he wouldn’t be able to pay and so Naruto would have to pay for it himself.

He enjoys being a ghost for the ability to see and help his son, but it also makes him feel bad when it comes to these small things. When he wants to let his hand go through the young blond’s hair and make comparison to his own, and hug him until Naruto lets out a laugh and complains. To take him over his shoulder and let him ask if he can go with his friends, asking him to read a story or—

or… Mikaze sighs internally, wishing that in another life, Naruto had grown with both of his parents and had been able to be loved as he deserves to be.

His little boy, his son.

So, so close and yet…

”Hey, Naruto,” Iruka-sensei’s voice brings the two quiet blond’s into reality. His head pops up by the doorway, giving his student a short grin. “Let’s go get Ichiraku Ramen, on me, yeah?”

Naruto yells in excitement, his laughs genuine and loud and so like Kushina. He speeds up more than ever, efficiently putting away all the cleaning supplies faster than Naruto has ever done his homework or any work in general and practically jumps Iruka. Mikaze stays behind, a look of longing on his face as he stares at the two figures, but also genuine happiness.

Because his son had not grown up with parents, but he was not completely lost on what it meant for a person to take care of him.

Mikaze shakes from his place and follows closely behind the teacher-student duo. If Iruka’s parents can see him now, they would be incredibly proud of their son.

*

Naruto slurps the noodles, stomach buzzing with enjoyment at the delicious taste from his favorite place ever, Ichiraku Ramen. His eyes turn upwards, pleased by his surroundings. Iruka-sensei sits beside him, Mikaze on the other side though no one sees him and his wistful look at the ramen. Naruto pities him because if he were a ghost, having to watch someone that is not him eat ramen would be absolutely torture. A horrified look passes onto  his face and he shudders at the thought.

Iruka raises an eyebrow at him. “What’s that about?”

”If I were a ghost and someone were eating my favorite meal, it would be absolute torture, don’t ya think? I don’t think I’d survive, Iruka-sensei,” Naruto rambles, an invisible cloud forming over his head. Iruka stares at him in confusion while the ghost that lives chuckles lightheartedly, fondly shaking his head.

”Oh, Naruto. You don’t have to worry about me,” Mikaze says sheepishly, and if ghosts could blush, he would have.

”You always come up with the weirdest questions,” Iruka-sensei comments, gently shaking his head. “By the way, why did you prank Mizuki-sensei? You do realize he and I have the same job, right?”

Naruto shrugs. “Well, duh. I’m not blind, y’know. But he’s always laughing when I say I’m gonna be Hokage and even cooler than the rest of those big-heads up the mountain,” he responds, a bit too annoyed at the thought. He knows the children his age laugh at him, and many other villagers as well if not all, but Naruto thought that as an Academy teacher, especially someone who always compliments the Uchiha, Mizuki would encourage his dream as well.

His hold on the chopsticks harden, and a fierce perseverance conspires among his expression as Naruto claims, “I am going to be greater than any of them— Me.” Naruto points the chopsticks directly at Iruka-sensei and finishes strongly, “Uzumaki Naruto, the next Hokage! A ninja legend— then everyone will have to stop disrespecting me and I will protect them, always, believe it!”

Iruka-sense pauses from eating, his eyes curiously analyzing his student before he smiles warmly. Mikaze grins at the young blond, being reminded of someone he loved and continues to do so. The same energy and dream.

”I am glad you understand the importance of passion and setting a goal,” Iruka laughs, but it is not malicious sounding like Mizuki’s.

Naruto gives him a thumbs up before a sheepish smile of his own, unknowingly mirroring the one Mikaze had done mere moments ago, builds up and he hesitantly asks, “Iruka-sensei? Can I- er, well… can I try on your headband? Please?”

Adorable, bright blue eyes stare upon the young man’s eyes and the said man freezes, caught between almost saying no but realizing just how cute his favorite student is and how can he say no? Though, Iruka definitely holds a stronger will since Mikaze trips over and collapses, tears streaming down his eyes but he forced himself to face the other way so Naruto wouldn’t see if he were to turn around.

So precious, Mikaze thinks to himself.

Somehow, some way, and definitely something Mikaze will need to learn, Iruka-sense managed to get a hold of himself and forces out, “You can only wear the Leaf headband when you finally graduate from the Academy and become a ninja. You’ve got to pass the test tomorrow.”

Naruto’s shoulders sag in disappointment. Mikaze glares at the Academy teacher despite knowing that he is not wrong, and that it wasn’t entirely bad intended.

”But,” Iruka-sensei speaks up again thoughtfully. He looks at Naruto and his eyes sparkle as he continues, “Naruto, you pass the test tomorrow, and I promise you that this is the headband you will receive… believe it.”

The young Uzumaki sees stars and planets and the sun, practically floating into dreamland as he nods excitedly, barely containing his need to jump crazily and take ten laps around Konoha.

”Ya! That’s right,” he laughs, and then promptly asks for another bowl of ramen that makes Iruka-sensei cry out about his paycheck being used up.

The next day comes faster than expected, and Naruto impatiently waits inside Iruka’s classroom with the rest of his classmates, tapping his fingers up and down repeatedly against the desk. Chouji nervously eats his own snacks, clearly following Naruto with his eyes as it goes from up and down and back again. It is not every day one spots Uzumaki Naruto filled with nervousness and he has taken the exams two other times.

Shikamaru sighs, wishing he’d either get over it fast or be the last one to finish so he can sleep.

They have all took the rest of the exams, only awaiting for the final one that shows their Academic instructors whether they truly have learned the jutsus taught or not. Naruto knows his written test either had a horrible mark, or at least gave him some points to help out the weaponry skills which he was not too bad on, marking the hit three times in a row and it really is all thanks to Mikaze who taught him the right way. He isn’t too bad now, if he is being honest. Maybe he can even be at Uchiha’s level, but Naruto also took Mikaze-sensei’s advice about not showing his skills all at once to create an illusion of deception.

He did the same with the taijutsu part, just in case. Naruto gives himself a credit of having been average, when he knows he can do a bit better. Especially if he adds the speed he uses to avoid being caught by ANBU or everyone else that does not include Iruka-sensei. He is the only man part from two other ANBU members that can catch or find him.

“Calm down, will you?” Shikamaru groans, banging his head onto his arms that lean against the wall. He opens an eye, looking at Naruto through it. “Just hearing you pace tires me out.”

Beside the Uchiha, who sits broodily and with his arms crossed as if her were angry, Ino scoffs to herself and retorts, “Everything tires you out.”

Naruto does not really talk to the only other blonde in his class, somewhat terrified of her and not only because she is part of the Uchiha’s fan club. Not that he has anything against her. He thinks of her as beautiful, but also very demanding to Shikamaru and Chouji. According to his only two friends, it is very likely the three of them (meaning his friends and Ino) would be placed in a team together to follow their father’s legacy. Naruto had been disappointed when Mikaze agreed with his lazy genius of a friend. He had hoped to get into a team with one of them at least so he would not be entirely alone, but it seemed practically hopeless.

Mikaze-sensei comforted him by saying that Naruto might make more friends. And that even if on different teams, he would still be allowed to hang with the other boys. After all, they are all or soon will become shinobi of the Hidden Leaf.

“But I can’t fail,” Naruto cries, and he loudly stops his pacing just to sit beside Chouji in a defeated manner. Chouji offers him a chip, but the blond denies the offer. It was sweet, but he also was not suicidal. If Chouji were to check, he’d realized that was his last piece.

His self-proclaimed (on Naruto’s behalf) rival snorts from the side, clearly listening to the conversation taking place and Naruto scowls at him.

“You certainly can,” Uchiha Sasuke scoffs, the same oh-so-ever loving look of disgruntlement. Naruto dislikes him because he always insults him and thinks he is better than everyone else, looking at others as if they were beneath him. And the fan girls the Uchiha has hate him for his remarks stated back at him, and because Sasuke speaks more never to them, but rather to Naruto whenever he insults him (which is almost every day). They banter each and every day whenever the moment comes.

It is the reason why he senses some forms of Killing Intent by his girl classmates, with the exception of Hyuuga Hinata.

“Shut up, bastard,” Naruto snarks back, and he almost flinches as if he can feel Mikaze-sensei’s hand slapping him across. Though, the ghost isn’t present in the room, probably out in the open and in hindsight, it likely is something Iruka would have done. Naruto wished Mikaze had been there, though. If only to leave the room and have someone congratulate him like all of the others, except Sasuke since his clan is all dead, have their families do.

The pink-haired girl sucker-punches Naruto and he yelps in surprise, though he really should have seen it coming. Shikamaru glares at her from the side while Chouji frowns. Either way, Sakura stands before Naruto with her hand raised and a glare on her face.

“Don’t call Sasuke such a foul name!” Sakura exclaims angrily.

“Alright, alright,” Naruto groans, rubbing the spot. “Ouch.”

Shikamaru frowns. “Troublesome girls,” he mutters, but not in the same way he would when referring to Naruto or even Ino. He happens to stand the blonde girl considering they have been forced to get along since childhood.

Iruka-sensei returns from wherever he had been and announces, “We will now start the final exam. When your name is called, proceed to the testing room. The final test will be on the clone jutsu.”

Just the clone jutsu?  Naruto blanches. Before he had to take all three of them! If Mikaze-sensei had not taught him the other version, Naruto would have absolutely failed with no question. He pales at the thought. The blond will have to make sure to appreciate and make it up for his private, secret sensei. It is what he deserves and more for sticking with him through all this time, believe it!

In a quite fast manner, Naruto’s turn ends up arriving and he hurriedly runs toward the testing room, barely dodging Iruka-sensei as he had gone up to get him. The chunin grunts in surprise before rubbing his neck with fondness exasperation.

”Calm down, Naruto, Mizuki-sensei and I are the ones proctoring,” Iruka says wryly.

Naruto grimaces, “Him?”

”He is my friend, and a fellow Academy teacher,” Iruka reminds him, giving him a certain look. It wasn’t rude or anything, simply more of a ‘I know you do not like him and I understand, but he is not such a bad man’.

The blond sighs in defeat and shrugs. His eyes nervously glance around the room he has been in for countless of times, and hopes this time that he will pass with flying colors. Naruto will prove to Mikaze-sensei that he had been taught well so far!

”Uzumaki,” Mizuki-sensei greets orderly, tone flat and a little too forceful of a cheer added in his face. Naruto responds back peacefully, moving to stand in front of the two proctors.

He gulps, heart beat wanting to raise but forcing himself to stay calm and he can hear the fox inside him growling, annoyed at the way his nerves fill him up. Naruto quickly and mentally asks him to ‘please shut up’ and then refocuses back in reality. It has become a common occurrence to talk to himself (and with that, the fox is included since apparently he hears and knows everything, weirdo) and sense the demon inside him but he hasn’t gone back to the sewer place, thankfully. But any who, Naruto takes a deep breath and hopes.

”Whenever you are ready,” Iruka-sensei calmly tells him, and his voice brings Naruto to a certain level of peace.

Naruto brings his hand up to his chest area, eyes closing as he forms the hand signals quickly, as to avoid the two teachers to notice the difference. At the same time, he releases a limited amount of chakra, thinking only of creating one clone, and then opens his eyes as he hears an almost silent pop.

Don’t speak,  he had beg before conjuring the clone, and so the clone that stands before him all perfectly well shape and more realistic than any other simply stands still and obeys to the wishes the original had said.

Iruka widens his eyes in surprise, having wholeheartedly remember that his student from all the time that he had known him was never able to create a clone like everyone else. And yet— He could not be any more proud of him.

Unbeknownst to him and Naruto, Mizuki was not happy about such transactions, his plan having relied on Naruto failing the test more and him playing the kind, caring teacher before he was able to get the demon to do something for him and then kill it.

”Naruto, you pass!” Iruka-sensei exclaims, and while his eyes are widened, Naruto does not sense unexpected surprise. His teacher is surprise, no doubt, but it really is all covered with an aura of happiness. Naruto grins excitedly and jumps up, laughing freely and with no care of the world. Iruka’s eyes twinkle and bows his head a little, hand of his reaching toward the back of his head and taking off the headband he received in his own graduation.

Naruto’s breath stiffens, and he watches silently as Iruka walks toward him and carefully wraps the headband over the blond’s forehead. His sensei smiles warmly, and ruffles his hair in such an affectionate way that Naruto leans just a bit more into it.

”You’re now a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf,” Iruka-sensei tells him confidently. “One step closer, right?”

And Naruto turns his right hand into a fist and pumps the area where his heart is. “Ya, believe it!”

He runs off almost immediately, and while Mizuki hides a disgusted face, Iruka shakes his head fondly, silently replying, That I do, Naruto.

When Naruto arrives back to the classroom, almost all of the students gape at him in shock, their eyes stuck frozen on the headband he wears. Hinata, who already has her own, squeals at his appearance, turning red suddenly and then colliding her head with the desk. Chouji grins happily and scoots closer to Shikamaru, he who simply smirks at the blond and lazily salutes. The rest of the students, except Sasuke (who is indeed surprised but instead lets out a ‘hn’ and stays quiet) squawk openly.

”I’m a ninja, believe it!” He exclaims proudly, ignoring the hushed whispers that began to arise from some of the civilian-born students.

”Troubling,” Shikamaru sighs, already thinking of all the ways Naruto will find to make him actually do work instead of lazying about.

Unsurprisingly, the rest of the class pass the Genin test and graduated altogether, their brand new headbands (or used, in Naruto’s case) reflecting back the sunlight once they get out of school for the first time. Many of the children head straight to their parents, those that await with some flowers or simply words of encouragement. Many congratulations being passed out. Naruto finds himself looking, before remembering he has no one. His shoulders sag in disappointment because how can he forget such instance—?

”I knew you’d pass, Naruto!” The familiar voice of the Fourth Hokage catches Naruto’s attention, and the blond twelve year old snaps his head near the swings he always used to be on by himself as a younger kid. Tears gather up in his eyes and he lets out a shaky grin, wanting to express his happiness upon seeing him but knowing doing so will make him receive more odd looks than—

He shudders, as he finally notes all the unwanted stares on him.

Filled with the two same things: hate and disgust.

Mikaze’s words that continue to leave from his mouth goes silent even though he still speaks, but Naruto cannot hear him. He stumbles forward barely letting himself catch his grip onto the swing and he wonders how he manages to sit down, but he tries so hard not to focus.

It does not work.

”There,” a voice of an adult enters his hearing, and a pointed figure follows along. “You see him?”

”It’s that boy,” another one says with the same contempt.

”I heard he passed,” one of the mothers from his class scoffs, eyeing him with distrust. “Unbelievable to think they can make anyone shinobi nowadays.”

A sound of countless of agreements buzzes along and Naruto closes his eyes as if that will make him avoid hearing. The ghost beside him shines with anger and the younger blond jumps when he feels a hand on his shoulder, nails gripping on tight and it should hurt, but the weight of it does not. Naruto can actually feel him, his hand touching his shoulder, and it’s a tight hold, but it also offers him comfort and

and Naruto devours it all.

“You earned this headband,” Mikaze-sensei claims firmly, pressing his fingers into the metal protector. His hold on him strengthens at the small tremble Naruto releases, and he swings right in front of him, kneeling down to the ground and gripping the young boy’s shoulders. “And I am so incredibly proud of you, Naruto.”

The elder of the two stands up a bit, enough to be in the same level as Naruto before he wraps him in a hug, finally having the chance to do something he had been wanting to do ever since the kid was born. Naruto closes his eyes tightly just for a moment before wanting to remember the visual clearly, and so he opens his eyes and takes it all in. He sags with relief and a bright, happy smile returns. While he wants to return the hug, he knows he should not in front of all those people and so he simply stays relaxed into the Fourth’s hold.

”Don’t let go yet,” Naruto whispers, wanting the moment to last. And Mikaze had felt himself returning back to normal, his anger dialing down, but the words the younger blond expressed caused a tsunami of sadness to wash over him, that he stays as he is.

”For as long as I can,” the Fourth Hokage murmurs back, knowing he would understand his meaning.

He won’t let go until his physical affections can no longer be felt.

(And maybe a bit more afterwards).

Mikaze-sensei does manage to hold him the entire time he feels sentient, and even after he fades though this time Naruto cannot feel him, but he removes himself from him only when another presence makes way beside the new Genin on the go. Naruto glances up, eyebrows furrowing at the sight of Mizuki-sensei with his silvery white hair and crooked, uneasy feeling smile looking down at him.

”Walk with me, Naruto,” Mizuki-sensei requests. “I want to congratulate you properly, and offer something you might want.”

Naruto tilts his head, but sees no reason to disagree so he stands. Mikaze, on the other hand, looks at the young man with suspicion, a small frown on his face. He says nothing since it wasn’t like he had something completely against him.

The walk to Naruto’s apartment is silent, but none truly mind since the sun is setting and the view looks pretty enough. Mizuki-sensei had told him he was surprised to see him pass but also very well-deserved after all the hard work. As they reach his home, Naruto and Mizuki sat near the edgings with Mikaze as a ghost being a sort of guard and clearly listening in despite appearing as if he were not.

”Iruka-sensei’s tough, but he has always been very supportive of you,” Mizuki tells him, eyes looking out at the orange-yellow sky. Naruto nods his agreement, knowing full well of how Iruka is as a person and a teacher and a friend (and maybe even a brother of sorts? Paternal?). “He wants you to be strong with all his heart… he’s like you. No parents, no family.”

Those words make Naruto think to himself of Iruka-sensei. He had not thought of it too much over the years, but he had gain knowledge of the man and his background mainly due to Naruto being curious and though he would ask him some questions, he also didn’t want to annoy the man so he found a way to look into his files. It helps that he visits the Hokage Tower quite often all thanks to the old man, really. He knew of him having been an orphan and all due to— well… him. The beast inside him, at least. Mikaze always reminds him that he sealed the demon inside, not make him the demon whatsoever.

“I look up to him, and I always wish to make him proud,” Naruto murmurs, staring off into the distance. He does not say it aloud, but he sideeyes Mikaze-sensei, briefly making eye contact before pretending he never even tried to look at him.

Mizuki-sensei hums, a slow smile spreading on his face. “Good, because I hoped to offer you something I think we can add to your achievements,” the silvery white haired mentions, scooting closer to the boy. He laughs awkwardly. “It’s kind of a secret-hack, but honestly you’ve improved so much that I just have to tell you about it. You see, Uchiha Sasuke is known as the rookie of the year, but you complete this task— you, Naruto can change that.”

Naruto stays silent and thinks over the words, letting his mind try to understand what is being said and once he manages it, he internally rolls his eyes. Look, maybe once he would have fallen for it, sure. He’s absolutely not the brightest of all his classmates and his common sense may lack at times, but Mikaze-sensei has taught him lots, so he knows better now. He is almost one hundred percent sure that the Third does not have a secret test to give out the title of the rookie, and even if it were true, Naruto would not take it. Sure, it’s impressive being the rookie, but it would feel like a shortcut and Uzumaki Naruto knows there is no shortcut to becoming Hokage so there must not be for being an absolutely badass shinobi with recognition.

Though, Naruto cannot help but wonder what Mizuki-sensei is trying to get out of this, and so he plays along.

”Rookie of the year?” He repeats, faking the sound of awe and desperation.

Mizuki-sensei falls for it, and Naruto knows he had made the right choice when his less kind Academy teacher tells him he has to steal the sacred scrolling. Mikaze-sensei almost falls off the edge himself which probably would not have hurt him but he still stop himself from actually doing so. Any who, as soon as those words came out, the older blond quickly scoffed and denied every one of Mizuki’s claim until Naruto signed the words know and mission now and finally, a questionable but still present: traitor?

Mikaze-sensei soon understands, and he lets the brand new shinobi take action.

Naruto rubs the back of his neck, somewhat disappointed and yet completely impressed by himself for what he had just caused. On his back lies a huge scroll, likely written with countless of amazing jutsus by the elder Hokage. To have gotten such scroll truly amazes him because that means he tricked the old man, but also—

The old man was tricked!

Naruto silently hopes he would be a bit better. Also, the old man is such a pervert— taken down by his sexy jutsu! What a joke, honestly. Naruto created the jutsu, no doubt, but it was all out of curiosity and also because he noticed the way some men reacted to woman and decided that they should be tricked or such. He thinks he might be like Mikaze-sensei. Naruto truly admires woman, but he does not see the appeal of reacting like a mad man with a nose bleed whenever one appears naked. Seriously, he cannot believe the old man actually lost!

Mikaze-sensei looks down at the unconscious man and shakes his head disappointedly. “After having seen you read those books, I don’t know what I was expecting,” he sighs, glaring at the Hokage’s desk where he knows Jiraiya-sensei’s books are.

How he had not become a pervert is beyond him, but maybe it had to do with a certain hot-headed beautiful redhead. A loving but slight grimace-filled expression at the memory of his wife. She would definitely be willing to smack the Third Hokage for having fall for their son’s sexy jutsu. Mikaze hated the fact that it actually worked and that Naruto even used the jutsu. Through his peripheral vision, he sees Naruto leave a note about the whole situation where he indicates he suspects Mizuki-sensei being a traitor and his need for the scroll.

”Don’t worry, old man, I’ll return this as soon as Iruka-sensei finds me,” Naruto tells the unconscious man, carefully making sure none of the ANBU see him and then flees from the crime. Mikaze-sensei follows behind him quietly despite not needing to. “He always manages to do so.”

Somehow, someway, Iruka seems to know the trick into finding him. Despite it being annoying at times, he also could not help but be overjoyed by it.

They reach the hidden space Mizuki-sensei had told him to go afterwards, likely knowing the alarms would be raised as soon as the old man wakes up, and finds a comfortable seating outside a rusty old and small building. He lies the scroll ahead of him and glances up at Mikaze-sensei who tilts his head, a curious look on his face.

A small thoughtful look appears on his face and he turns to Naruto, “Maybe you should look inside, Naruto.”

”Huh?! But— it’s forbidden!” Naruto cries out. His face pales. “I’d get in trouble, ya know?!”

”Ah, but in their eyes as soon as this gets all cleared up, you had been manipulated,” Mikaze-sensei reminds him with a smile that mirrors the mischievous one Naruto wears most of the time. Naruto looks at him in surprise and frowns a little, unsure. “Inside you’ll find the Shadow Clone jutsu and since you know it already, I believe this is the time to make them believe you found out about it.”

Naruto brightens up immediately. “That’s smart, thanks sensei!”

Mikaze does the same as his son, rubbing the back of his neck as if he were embarrassed. Naruto ignores him afterwards and opens up the scroll, his eyes falling onto the written jutsus and widening in disbelief.

“Hey, sensei,” he calls out distractedly, and pushes the scroll a little to the side so Mikaze-sensei can read over him. He reads it all carefully, but he knows he learns better by actually experimenting with it. “Can you please help me if you know any of these?”

”Of course,” Mikaze agrees easily, eyebrow raising as he spots a familiar jutsu he was commonly known to have practically perfected. He will definitely be showing that one to Naruto, but… not now. His faded hand points to the second jutsu, the first having been Multi-Shadow Clones, but this one being the Clone Great Explosion, and another one he used often: the Multi Shuriken Shadow Clone jutsu. “Well, first…”

By the time nighttime almost befalls the light, Naruto managed to get the jest of both jutsus, thought it wasn’t all fun and quite frankly tiring. The memories his clones created of their training were helpful, no doubt, but also Naruto received more than twice the learning and pain that came with the training. At least thanks to the fox inside him he heals faster than most.

”Why are these forbidden?” Naruto happens to ask at one point, putting the scroll away since there are a lot more jutsus, but Mikaze already discussed the ones that is better to learn. Some of the others truly seem intense in the way that it would not make sense if Naruto learns them.

Mikaze hums at the question before replying, “Why? Well, apart from some of them having the ability to be used for something bad, it all mostly has to do with the fact that anyone without high chakra reserves are capable of dying for all the amount it uses up. You, on the other hand, can likely last to use the ability once and be fine and possibly even more if you practice long enough.”

Naruto opens his mouth slight as if he were to ask a question but then decides against it. A curious look flashes onto his face, hand touching his stomach. He debates whether or not to tell him that he has met the fox and he does have a lot of chakra, but his chakra is not completely overshadowing his. It lies more as a barrier, his chakra rests on the bottom and barely soaks his shoes, never leaving, but it does not drown him completely.

At the sudden sound of leaves crunching, Naruto carefully listens further before deciding his favorite Academy teacher has now found him. He stays where he is, stretching for all the tiredness his body feels. Honestly, working with clones can be truly beneficial, ya know? But also even more tiring. His hand places itself on his chest this time around, breathing heavily while the work piles on him. On the side, Mikaze winces and promises himself not to overload the young boy with that much information all at once. Especially not at his current level. Even his hair seems to be all winded up and exhausted.

A shadow stands over Naruto’s light and the blond stares up, surprise written on his face upon seeing the angry look on Iruka-sensei’s face. His hands are placed on his waist, crouching down to be at Naruto’s low level.

”It’s all over,” Iruka-sensei announces, a tone of disappointed embedded inside. Naruto feels bad for having deceived the man as well, but he knows he will be forgiven by him. Naruto rubs the back of his neck and laughs carefree, looking sheepish if anything. A confused look passes over Iruka, instantly recognize the laugh. “Huh?”

“You always find me,” Naruto grins brightly, standing up from his place with the scroll on his back. He looks at the man with curiosity. “D’you have a tracker on me, or s’mthing? I had time to learn only one technique and— and get started on two others!”

The suspicion on Iruka’s face disappears and only a puzzled look stays behind. Naruto ignores it in favor of exclaiming, “Listen, sensei! I’m gonna show you these amazing jutsus and then since I got the scroll then I’ll take Sasuke’s rookie of the year title! That’s how it works right?”

”Huh?! Where’d you get that idea?” Iruka-sensei questions in disbelief, though all the accusation and doubt he had on Naruto is all gone.

Naruto grins at the question knowing now was the time to reveal, “Mizuki-sensei told me about it, believe it! He told me where to find the scroll, and this place…”

His voice starts to fade, sensing the familiar chakra of the other teacher coming their way with high speeds. Naruto instantly grabs onto Iruka-sensei and pulls him away from all the weapons thrown at him at once. Iruka grunts in surprise but quickly catching his balance, likely having heard the commotion but unaware of how to move instantly. He’d probably would have only pushed Naruto away. The older of the two glances down at Naruto in surprise, but the blond is already focused on something else. Someone else.

Mizuki makes his appearance known, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. “Seems you found our little hideout,” he reveals.

And though a heartbreaking face shines on Iruka-sensei’s, he stands beside Naruto and scoffs lightly, muttering, “I should have known.” Because somehow, Naruto seems to have a good sense of people.

Mizuki ignores him in favor of yelling to Naruto, “Give me the scroll!”

“Naruto, don’t listen to him!” Iruka denies. “He wants to use the scroll all for himself and it would put the village in danger.”

Naruro fiercely makes eye contact with the silvery white haired man, and smiles. “So, you are a traitor. Y’know, as future Hokage, I protect this village,” Naruto begins, securing the scroll on his back and sensing Iruka’s attention but ignoring it in favor to focus on the situation. The amused look on his face disappears and he glowers at the traitor before him. “I hate traitors,” he remarks.

A dark look overshadows Mizuki’s face as he stands tall on top of the tree’s branch. “You knew I was lying? Huh… well, I suppose it makes sense since everyone has been lying to you, Naruto.”

The young blond furrows his brows in confusion. Even Mikaze looks a little puzzled. He who has gone to the side, letting the action play out but also prepared to protect the boy under any cause. And also Iruka-sensei as apart from him belonging to the village, he has a deep bond with his son and his loss would be Naruto’s heartbreak. Another paternal figure to be a loss.

 “I’ll tell you who’s really lying,” Mizuki cackles, a crazy look on his face. Iruka-sensei stands firmly, arm placing over Naruto’s front as he yells a loud ‘no!’ in disagreement to whatever the other man wants to say. “They’ve all been lying to you your whole life since the decree twelve years ago.”

”Eh? What decree?” He wonders confusedly.

”Everyone knows except you. Iruka’s even trying to hide it from you even now,” Mizuki hums, glancing at his coworker with displeasure. He keeps a careful eye on him since he failed to trap him.

Iruka winces slightly, and Naruto cannot help but give a puzzled look at Mikaze before looking back. “It’s forbidden!” Iruka argues, but Naruto has a feeling it does not matter if he’s trying to convince Mizuki. He’s already become or planned to be a traitor. It makes sense for whatever secret he does not know, however. If the Hokage demands for it to not be known, then the shinobi of the Leaf must obey.

Mizuki grows a winning smirk. “The decree is that no one can tell you the Nine Tails fox is inside you,” he announces with such spirit. Naruto stares at him with a blank face before he frowns. That was it? On the side, he hears Mikaze mumble to himself ‘Is it a betrayal to the Hokage if I never knew about it? Wait, I’m also Hokage. Does it apply to me too?’. Naruto hides the way he wants to smack his hand onto his face because of the other blond. He truly can be more than amusing at times but at the moment, their focus should be elsewhere.

The gray haired man continues viciously, “The same fox spirit that killed Iruka’s parents and destroyed our village has taken over your body. You are the Nine Tails fox!”

Naruto gasps at the venomous detected within those words before his face scrunches up and he angrily smacks his foot to the ground, yelling, “Are you an idiot, ‘ttebayo?! The Fourth sealed the fox inside me to keep it from escaping not make me the spirit! Why else would he be known as the man to defeat the fox if he hadn’t gotten rid of him, believe it!”

Mikaze snorts amusingly from the side before he composes himself and reminds, “Naruto, try not to get killed. Making him angry won’t help you.”

“Seems like the demon already knew,” Mizuki continues to taunt, eyes blazed with rage. “Of course it did. Was it all those hatred stares? Those whispers you heard around? Why no one even wants to be around you?”

Naruto knows of all this, of course. But he also knows that he isn’t completely alone. Just like the man beside him. Iruka stares at him in surprise for what he had just said and Naruto gives him a weak shrug in response to the questioning eyes silently asking ‘you knew?’.

”Even your beloved sensei hates your guts! Die, Naruto!” Mizuki yells, teeth gritting against each other. He grabs the shuriken held behind his back and quickly aims it straight at Naruto causing a chain of reactions. Mikaze immediately stands forward and throws himself in front of his son, a fierce and protective sensation within him that creates a small barrier between. Even so, Iruka had done the very same thing though he with his body wrapped around the blond, prepared to get his back stabbed for him. To die protecting him. Mikaze’s interference stopped the blade from hitting anyone, his hand having make contact with the weapon and thrown it back at Mizuki in hopes to gain a scratch. But even so, Naruto stares at the two in evident surprise, a shaky breath escaping him while the anger in his gut grows because how dare he? They could have died—

Iruka opens his eyes and stares down at the blond in relief. Naruto‘s lips tremble and he hesitantly asks, “Why?”

Why would you do this for me?

”Because we’re the same, you and I,” Iruka responds, in another world he’d be bleeding and blood would come out his mouth. But in this one, he stays protecting Naruto and free of any damage. “When I lost my parents, no one seemed to care. They didn’t have time for me. They just forgot I was there. My grades dropped. I became the class clown. I just wanted them to see me and to know my name. I did crazy things and then I had to pay for it. It was hard. I know that’s how you feel, Naruto. You feel lonely and it hurts inside, and I could have been there for you more. Protect you from the whispers and the doubts and all. I’m sorry for letting you down. No one should have to suffer that way you have and continue to do so. No one should be alone like that. You always deserved more than what I have offered.”

Naruto gulps down his tears, Iruka’s own falling onto his own face already. And then, he smiles, small but genuine and Iruka admires it all the same.

”Sensei—”

Mizuki laughs from his place, and Mikaze silently curses himself for having missed to hit him as the man dodged upwards.

”Don’t make me laugh,” the man claims annoyingly. “Iruka hates you. Always has, and always will. He was orphaned because of the demon inside you. I say you should just die and let him gain peace.”

Naruto scowls at him, attention lost between the two Academy teachers. Iruka gives him a bit more space as he begins to compose himself and warns him to start running. Naruto nods briefly, staring at his sensei in worry before fleeing.

Iruka plays his role and yells after him, letting himself trust the blond with all he can because he does trust Naruto. Even had trusted him when he was accused of stealing the scroll.

By the time Naruto scavenges around the woods, he hears the other two (except the ghost that is with him) began catching up and Mizuki yelling out his name. He furrows his brows, hiding underneath a tree and making a face of realization when noting one, most likely, Iruka, transformed as him and the other transformed as Iruka. Smart move, he cannot help but admire silently. He should not be surprised since Iruka did it and he’s the greatest!

Once the deception is revealed, Mizuki scoffs and Naruto hears clearly as he asks, “Why are you protecting that freak? He’s the one that wiped out your family!”

Naruto slightly blanches because… Mizuki is right, after all. Maybe not him personally, but the fox, the demon is now inside him. Who is he to say he is not a monster when he knows deep down he does believe it but cannot say it because then it will make Mikaze sad.

”Naruto wants power just like me. And vengeance and he will put all of his anger into those scrolls until he destroys everything. That is how beasts are,” Mizuki continues, a smirk hidden underneath. That causes the blond to internally roll his eyes because when had he ever said that he wants revenge on the village? Does he want power? Yes, but not to the point of greed but rather so he can prove to everyone that he can still be great and strong and capable of protecting others and not a demon.

Iruka stares at his former friend and nods, “That’s right.”

Naruto almost reveals himself then and there because huh? But— he stops himself. He trusts Iruka-sensei much more than himself.

”That is how beasts are, but that is not who Naruto is,” Iruka continues, voice filled with determination. “Naruto is nothing like that. He is one of a kind. Works hard, puts his whole heart into it. Sure, he messes up sometimes and everyone jumps on him, but his suffering only makes him stronger. That is what makes him completely different from a beast. So you’re wrong, he’s not the Nine Tails fox. He’s Uzumaki Naruto of the Village Hidden in the Leaves!”

Naruto widens his eyes, surprised by his sensei’s full confidence in him and this time, he cannot stop the tears that flows down.

Mizuki scoffs at Iruka, taking out his weapon once more. “I was going to save you for later, but I change my mind. You’re finished!”

At the sight of his sensei in danger, Naruto reacts even before he can blink, body moving on its own and filled with a determination he had never felt until now. The absolute need to protect his precious person and so he jumps in  front of Iruka, foot kicking onto the upcoming attack and adds full on force of chakra onto it. Mizuki fails to see it coming and gets hit harshly, his weapon slipping out his hand and away from any of their hold. Even Mikaze-sensei appears surprised, not having recognized that the boy had moved with quick speed and both of the boy’s senseis are filled with such emotion and impressed by it.

”Naruto!” Iruka exclaims, shocked but filled with relief and also now filled with worry because he has now made himself go onto the front lines.

Naruto lands with ease onto the ground, the scroll right beside him as he glares forward to where Mizuki groans. He stands up almost just as quick, and despite how tired he had been, it is all gone in the midst of seeing Iruka almost get killed. His stamina back to its full power.

”Hn. Not bad for a punk,” Mizuki cannot help but say, slowly turning his attention to the boy with the orange jacket.

Naruto glares at him, and he feels the inside of his stomach growling, but he ignores it as he stares down at Mizuki with a newfound and strong Killing Intent. “If you ever lay a hand on Iruka-sensei, I’ll kill you,” he swears, a promise of blood and darkness, but real all the same. This was all him and not the fox.

Because Uzumaki Naruto never breaks his promise.

”Such big words,” Mizuki scoffs. “I can completely destroy you with a single move!”

Naruto forms the Multi Shadow Clone jutsu hand signals, and this time, he makes no sign of restrictions. His full attention aimed at defeating the traitor as he responds back, “Take your best shot. I’ll return it a thousand-fold.”

Such words have power within them, and Naruto is unaware of how true they are.

”Let’s see you try! Show me what you can do, Nine Tails fox!” Mizuki yells in rage, not even aiming to protect himself as he believes the blond to be a simple fool. Mikaze almost pities the man, before remembering that said man wants to destroy the young blond and so he lets a pleased smile take over his face because he knows who will be winning, and it is definitely not the chunin with gray hair. He was certainly no silver-haired jounin known as Hatake Kakashi.

Naruto had no problem being ruthless, after all, the man was going to kill Iruka-sensei. And so, he pours his chakra onto the upcoming technique and yells to make sure the man hears, “Multi Shadow Clone jutsu!”

A thousand Naruto-clones surrounds Mizuki, overfilling the trees, the grounds. No chance of escape considering Mizuki clearly underestimated him. Iruka-sensei had stood up, leaning against the tree, and stares at the scene with his mouth gaping open.

Those aren’t just illusions. They’re solid clones, Iruka thinks to himself in shock and a smile grows on his face.

”Huh? Wha—what is this?” Mizuki stumbles, looking around in confusion and he sweatdrops, now fully aware of the threat that he has made himself.

The original Naruto overhears as his clones begin to yell at Mizuki, some having conversations with themselves in response to sorting out an agreement. He nods at the ones in his left and announces, “If you’re not coming, then we’re going to come after you.”

Mizuki falls to the ground, whimpering in fear and Naruto cares nothing at all for it as he raises his hand and then points at the man, all charged up. The rest take it as a sign and they all jump him, blows hitting hard with each clone that gets the chance. The only thing left behind to hear are the screams Mizuki lets out and a pleased thought passing through Naruto’s mind.

By the time he finishes, Mizuki lies all bloodied up, face distorted and his body shaking as it can barely handle even a touch now. Naruto stands over him, laughing sheepishly at Iruka-sensei and Mikaze-sensei with his normal mood back on, killing intent vanished upon his release of anger.

”Sorry, I kind of got carried away,” he apologizes, not at the traitor but at the other two. Naruto tilts his head and goes to Iruka, looking at him in concern. “You okay, Iruka-sensei?”

Iruka-sensei blinks, once and then twice and then slowly nods. “Unh… yeah. Yeah, I’m good,” he assures, and silently thinks ‘he’s amazing’ unknowingly alongside the ghost because Naruto is still standing. Still all steady and everything despite all the chakra that was required from the thousandths of clones to the practice he had beforehand when he already seemed tired. His stamina probably greater than anyone he’s ever seen.

“Hey, Naruto,” Iruka calls, staring up as he senses some ANBU finally reaching their place. He wonders how they knew he was there, but then again, all the blows Naruto gave Mizuki started up a chain of smokes. Naruto glances at Iruka questioningly and he smiles at him, “Wanna get some ramen afterwards? My treat, since you saved my life after all.”

Naruto freezes, and he hears the way Iruka calls his name softly but with those words, he realized his sensei could have died and—

and Naruto quickly jumps onto him, hand gripping the chunin’s vest as he holds him tight. Hiding his face within his chest and letting out a breath of relief. Iruka-sensei gives off a surprised sensation before he instantly warms up and hugs back the kid, eyes crinkling upwards as a smile stays on his lips.

”’m so glad you’re okay, sensei,” Naruto mumbles, squeezing his eyes tight. Despite not physically feeling him, he senses Mikaze-sensei behind him. “Thank you.”

Thank you both.

Chapter Text

Naruto sits impatiently, all far away from the old man and another shinobi as they look at his file. His picture had been taken just an hour ago, headband on his forehead and a grinning expression to fit right onto his daily image. The man beside the Third had not looked amused to see him smiling so much, but the old man seems to not mind since he had rolled his eyes somewhat fondly. Mikaze-sensei happens to think the boy was the cutest, not that he’d admit it to Naruto as he would see it more of an insult than anything.

“Ya know, I was actually g’nna paint my face and express my artist self but then I thought it would be too much,” Naruto snickers, thinking back at his awesome idea. He truly almost did it but Mikaze-sensei stopped him in all honestly. He had given him a look he has seen on Iruka’s face and then quickly changed his mind. The blond doesn’t mind the one he gave all that much since it’ll likely still annoy some people, but it could have been better.

The old man with Naruto’s future hat on shakes his head, a sigh of relief escaping him, “Well, it’s a good thing you didn’t or you’d have to retake it, Naruto.”

Naruto pouts, “But old man…”

”I knew Lord Third was a sentimental man, look at him,” Mikaze-sensei mutters under his breath. “Naruto practically attacked him and he’s still much of a grandpa to him.”

“Naruto,” the Third Hokage waves off the previous conversation and leans a bit forward, taking a smile out of his pipe. “This sexy jutsu of yours, it’s very risky. Very,” he emphasizes.

The young blond makes a face and hotly replies, “It sure is if it took you out.”

Old man Hokage makes a sound of defeat, almost falling off his seat at Naruto’s response. Perhaps any other person and definitely an adult would have been in trouble, but this is Naruto the troublemaker so the Third really should have expected it. He exhales deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose.

”Yes, well— use it wisely, or none at all,” the old man orders, closing his eyes knowing he will likely regret it. Or so he assumes. Fortunately for him, Mikaze-sensei keeps Naruto in check most of the time, so… The Third Hokage regains his composure and smiles at Naruto. “Iruka-sensei and I are extremely impressed by your actions the day before. I see you managed to successfully achieve the Multi Shadow Clone jutsu. And I heard you were working on the two other ones?”

The shinobi beside him begins choking in surprise before quickly turning back to normal and covered it up with a cough. Naruto glances at him weirdly before nodding at the old man.

”Yup! It was all easy, old man,” Naruto exclaims excitedly. He sags a bit upon remembering the other two. “The other ones I tried out and worked on them, but it was a bit more difficult. It’s not fun exploding yourself, ya know?”

The Third seems to squint his eyes at him before he widens his eyes briefly. “Explode, you say? Are you telling me you tried out the Clone Great Explosion jutsu? Naruto, that was incredibly reckless. Even more so than the shadow clone itself since only those with great chakra levels are able to do many and survive. An explosion, however, if gone wrong, could have been very dangerous for yourself and Konoha.”

Naruto scratches the back of his neck and defends, “I knew that, old man! I’m not that dumb so I was just trying to prepare myself— or my clone, that is. I didn’t actually get to blow myself up completely, y’know! Not yet anyway.”

”And not until there is an appropriate teacher helping you. Perhaps the sensei you’ll receive,” the old man responds back evenly. Naruto perks up at the mention of him actually becoming a shinobi and nods repeatedly. “Very well, Uzumaki Naruto, shinobi of the Leaf. There’s a long road—”

”Yeah, yeah, Iruka-sensei has already warned me,” Naruto interrupts, and he shudders as he feels the shadow of his Academy teacher smacking the back of his head every time he interrupts. And not to mention Mikaze-sensei had also given him a very long speech afterwards about a shinobi’s life when they went back home.

Both the blond and the old man pause in their conversation as they sense a figure outside the room’s door, Naruto narrowing his eyes upon preparing for a threat. The door immediately is slid open and a boy younger than Naruto runs in with a shuriken on his hand as he goes toward the Hokage. Naruto stays in his spot, caught off guard by the size of the figure and figures it’s a child.

”Old man, I challenge you. I’m going to defeat you and become the Fifth Hokage!” The kid exclaims, voice loud and even squeakier than Naruto’s. The blond hides a snicker and instead watches the scene unfold. Whoever the kid is, he ends up tripping over his own feet and lands with a thump. Well, Naruto has to admit, at least he tried. The child begins to cry to himself and Naruto scratches the top of his head.

On the side, Mikaze grins happily and lets out, “How cute!”

Loud steps make an appearance by the door once more and this time it’s a shinobi with dark tinted and round glasses. He looks out of breath and a gasp escapes him when he spots the kid on the floor.

”Something tripped me!” The kid cries out, slowly standing up.

”Are you okay, honorable grandson?!” questions the older ninja, probably Jounin level if Naruto assumes correctly. “By the way, there’s nothing for you to trip on.”

”Grandson, huh?” Naruto mutters under his breath, watching as the man that followed behind widens his eyes at the sight of him and immediately becomes defensive. He figures out why pretty quickly since it is a look always given to him. His muttering seems to have captured the kid’s attention as he begins to march up to him with anger.

”Alright! You’re the one who tripped me,” he accuses, finger pointing right at him.

Naruto gains a tick at the side of his head, lifts the supposed grandson and he retorts, “You tripped over your own feet, dork!”

”Now, now, Naruto, let the poor kid go,” Mikaze-sensei says wryly. Naruto ignores him and the elder man turns to the corner and crouches to the floor, his familiar gloomy air whenever Naruto responds back to him like that returns and Naruto winces, already feeling the same feeling randomly in the air in the eyes of other people. The Third Hokage narrows his eyes, glancing around the room suspiciously before staring back at the blond somehow knowing it had something to do with him. He wonders when Uzumaki Naruto had become a new mystery to him. Especially considering he had always known the boy even before Iruka came into his life.

In response to the gloomy air, Naruto reluctantly lets go of the kid and scoffs.

”He’s the honorable grandson of the honorable Third Hokage,” exclaims the jounin that followed the kid through. Naruto hums thoughtfully, glaring down at the kid who seems to get even angrier at the introduction, looking at Naruto like he knows he would never touch him because he is protected.

“What’s the matter, huh?! I thought you were gonna hit me, tough guy! Afraid because the Third Hokage is my grandfather?” The kid argues back angrily, clearly already assuming he knows how this goes each time. Someone bullies him, gets ready to hit him most likely, and then his sensei comes through and announces to everyone who he is and so the special treatment stops him from being a normal boy. The same thing, over and over—

Naruto’s eyes mimic the kid’s and he shouts back, “I don’t care if he’s your grandmother, so believe it!” And he smacks the kid upside down, abruptly turning his head away with an annoyed look.

”Naruto!” Mikaze-sensei exclaims, mouth open wide in surprise before he sighs as if he should have seen it coming. Naruto has grown, do not get him wrong, but the kid is still much a kid and though he has gotten better at controlling his emotions, well—

The old man simply sighs once more, the least surprised from them all considering the kid’s caretaker is stammering to himself. Naruto huffs at them, bows toward the Third, and then throws himself off through the window.

Mikaze-sensei follows close behind. “That was not nice,” he tells him.

Naruto snorts, “I didn’t think so, but it was for his own good, ‘ttebayo!”

”How so?” The Fourth questions thoughtfully, his face scrunching up in a familiar motion. Naruto swears he has seen it in his own face.

”The kid’s a brat, but he’s obviously annoyed by the special treatment he gets,” Naruto informs him expectantly. He stops running, placing his arms behind his head, and walks around the village. “No one’s ever tried to treat him normally, so I figured I’d be the first other than his family, ya know? He’ll thank me later. Can’t let him get a big head.”

The Fourth Hokage smiles softly down at the younger lookalike of his and thinks that maybe even if his son had lived with his parents and knowing of his true heritage, he would still be kind and humble. Especially since Kushina would do exactly the same thing Naruto had done to Konohamaru. Sure, he would have spoiled him, but that red headed mother of his would have just simply never allowed it.

Naruto turns his head slightly, ears twitching in recognition that someone is following him. His eyebrow does the same as his ear, but he ignores it in hopes that the person stops. He does not. Naruto scowls and turns completely around, pointing directly at a poorly hidden grandson that tried to blend in but failed in doing so.

”Quit following me, I know you’re doing it so give it up!” Naruto snaps. He shakes his head disappointedly. “So obvious, it’s pathetic.” Even he knew how to avoid being found by others except Iruka. Or the Third when he had to do it himself since no one could find a five or four year old little kid. 

”You’re good,” the kid mumbles, looking extremely pleased. He smiles widely and it is such a smug look that Naruto wants to smack it away. “Alright, I’ll be your apprentice!”

Naruto collapses to the ground and then stands right back up. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes, though clearly not sorry at all. “I thought you said you wanted to be my apprentice.”

He laughs.

The child does not.

Mikaze does.

Naruto scowls at them both. “No,” he says firmly.

”Boss, please,” the kid begs. And that captures Naruto’s attention. “I wanna learn the sexy jutsu too!”

”Absolutely not,” Mikaze denies almost immediately. He takes pleasure that his son does not want to do it anyway. Silence. He turns to Naruto and gains a whiplash as he turns from one side to the other and his son is nowhere to be found. The smile drops from his face and he gloomily goes find the young blond before he absentmindedly corrupts the boy.

On his way to orientation, Naruto had encountered Konohamaru— his newly declared rival to the Hokage title. After their first introduction, he had spent the day with him and at one point the kid tried to get him to do the sexy jutsu but Mikaze forbade him from even trying so he did not. The kid still keeps trying, no doubt, but he can easily be ignored. Plus, his sensei is right in worrying considering that private trainer of Konohamaru is clearly a closet pervert— he remembers when he tried out the technique on him once and the blood that came out of his nose had been absolutely tons. That could also be why the jounin happens to despise him apart from being the fox-holder.

Naruto notices he’s one of the first to arrive and so he sits comfortably with a smile on his face, eyes closed but awake and Mikaze-sensei talking in the background. He hears shuffling behind him and someone sits two seats away. He opens his eyes thinking the person is Shikamaru, and scowls when he notices it is not. His said friend enters the classroom only seconds later and he walks toward him.

”I haven’t seen you since we graduated,” Shikamaru notes, raising an eyebrow at him questioningly. Naruto sheepishly smiles and the Nara sighs, somehow figuring his friend had gotten into something troublesome. “Mom was trying to find you afterwards, but you were gone pretty quick.”

The blond boy lowers his head, embarrassed. “Sorry, really,” he apologizes. “There was something I had to take care of, ya know? Trash and all that.”

Shikamaru is not an idiot, and his father is the Jounin Commander, so he knows more than he should simply by listening and figuring things out. He does not know how nor why, but something tells him Naruto is downplaying the something he had to take care of.

”Just come over today after you’re done with everything, I’ll come look for you,” Shikamaru shrugs. He gives him an apologetic look. “Mom and Dad wants to celebrate you too.”

Naruto feels his cheek redden, the blood flowing upwards and he nods slowly in agreement. Mikaze-sensei sighs happily.

”Shikaku and Yoshino are great people,” he chuckles warmly. Naruto nods mindlessly.

Shikamaru gently pats his back before heading his own way to sit down. Naruto glances between him and Sasuke and easily makes his choice, standing from his place. Before he can leave, his balance is shot through when Haruno Sakura runs pass him and he tumbles down.

”Move it!” Sakura had yelled, and she stands all shy when looking at the Uchiha. “Good morning, Sasuke,” she speaks gently, her angry voice gone. The Uchiha merely stares at her for a moment and then turns away uncaringly.

Naruto rolls his eyes at the pair of them. Before he can say anything, Ino goes beside Sakura and retorts, “Back off, forehead. I’m sitting next to Sasuke.”

And as always, the arguments begins. Mikaze-sensei frowns at the girls, clearly not happy at the amount of fan girls. Truly the only one that had not stood up was Hinata, though she seems to be rather distracted looking at Naruto and turning red. Naruto narrows his eyes at all of them and then stares at Sasuke with a glare.

He jumps up in front of Sasuke’s desk and leans in, scaling him from up close. The Uchiha opens his eyes and lets out a questionable sound, scoffing when recognizing who it is. Though, he does not take him out and instead glares back evenly.

”Naruto! Stop glaring at Sasuke,” Sakura yells at the blond, clearly agitated. All the girls yelling begins to overlap. A tick appears on Naruto’s head and he begins thinking of ways to prank Sasuke, tired of his smugness and yeah, he’s easily can become a great ninja and all, but his attitude physically makes Naruto sick. He never takes Naruto seriously even nowadays when he tries his best and calms the amount of pranks played.

Although Naruto hates to admit it, there seems to be a connection between the two. Maybe it has to do with both of their parents being dead, because for all that Sasuke has fans, he truly is alone now that his family were all massacred. He remembers Mikaze-sensei learning about it, and his shock and confusion of whatever happened with the Uchiha.

Just as Naruto is about to snap something at him, the person that sat up front accidentally stretches too back, hits Naruto forward, and Naruto freezes. His lips have connected with cold ones, face pressed against his rival’s and the two of them have their eyes wide open, shocked and—

and at the same time, they both yank themselves back with disgust. Naruto gags afterwards, ignoring the surprised silence from everyone present while he thinks dying is probably better than existing.

“I will get you, Naruto,” Sasuke growls, gagging all the same.

Mikaze-sensei was staring at the boys in shock, not even knowing whether he wanted to laugh or cry. On one hand, his son had just had his first kiss. On the other, he most definitely did not want his son kissing at the age of twelve. Though, he supposes the kiss is punishment enough with the obvious distaste on their faces.

Naruto stills once more when his sensations tell him something. He slowly turns to where the girls are and gulps, “Ah, danger.”

Luckily, Shikamaru, who watched all of that unfold, yanks Naruto out of the way and drags him to be in between Chouji and him. A lazy look is given to him. When the pack of girls surround them, Shikamaru stares at them uncaringly and tells them, “You’re bothering our view.”

Ino glares at him. “Well—”

Chouji happily glances up and waves behind them. “Good morning, Iruka-sensei!”

All the girls immediately run to their seats once Iruka-sensei uses his Big Head jutsu and orders them to do so. Naruto offers his two friends a grin which Chouji returns and Shikamaru waves off.

”Thank you,” Iruka-sensei hums pleasingly. “As of today, you are all ninjas. To get here, you faced difficult trials and hardships. But that’s nothing. What comes next will be far more difficult. Now you’re only genin, first level ninjas. All the Genin will be grouped into three man squads. Each squad will be led by a jounin, an elite ninja.”

I wish I could be with Shika and Chouji, but it’s very likely I will not be since I heard of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation and squad, Naruto thinks to himself, lying back on his seat with his hand softly scratching his cheek. He looks around the room. Hinata probably would not be so bad since she does not seem to hate him and according to Mikaze-sensei, the Hyuuga’s are quite a powerful clan. Though, she also gets sick a lot or appears as if she has a fever whenever he looks at her so that might be worrying. Shino too has never been rude to him, although a bit weird with all his bugs. Either way, Naruto respects him. And his bugs. He doesn’t quite understand it other than it being a clan thing, but they don’t bother him as they do to the girls. He actually thinks they’re cool since they could be like friends! Oh well. As long as Sasuke is not in his team, he will be fine.

”We want each squad to have a balance of strengths and abilities so that’s how we set them up,” Iruka-sensei continues. He looks up at them with a smile. “I will now announce the squads.”

Balance, huh? Naruto glances up and thinks. And then, his face stricken in disbelief and he thumps his head onto the desk. Shikamaru hums thoughtfully at his reaction and then chuckles, likely figuring out why.

Mikaze-sensei awkwardly laughs. “Oh, Naruto…”

Iruka-sensei begins to call out the teams, and Naruto only truly listens once he hears, “Team Seven, Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and…” Please not Sasuke… ”Uchiha Sasuke.”

”No…” Naruto cries, silently and internally crying. Mikaze-sensei winces.

”It’ll be fine,” he offers.

It does not help.

While Sakura cheers for having Sasuke on her team, Ino glowers at them. Shikamaru side eyes the girls and says wryly, “I don’t get it. What do you see in a guy like that? He’s not so special.”

”Uh huh,” Naruto nods his head. He puts his weight against Shikamaru and groans. “Kill me now, Shika…”

His friend pats his head with pity and Naruto practically devours the touch, however little it is.

“You two are so beyond clueless,” Ino scoffs. “Don’t you get it?”

Shikamaru lazily looks at her and answers, “No, I don’t get it. And not just because I’m not a girl.”

Ino scowls. “Ugh, you’re so full of yourself. I’d hate to be on your squad.”

Iruka-sensei continues, “Squad Ten, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Chouji.”

Shikamaru snickers, “Didn’t you say something about my squad?” He, as a Nara, already knew or figured who he was going to team up with. He had even told Naruto as to not let the boy be disappointed the day of. Though, then again, he still appears even more so disappointed. That probably has to do with who is on his team.

”Iruka-sensei, why do I have to be with him?!” Naruto cries out. “I know I was dead last, ‘ttebayo, but can’t I change with the second to last!”

They all knew that was likely to be Inuzuka Kiba, a loud but friendly kid at times. Kiba, however, winces at the thought of being with Sasuke and lets out a sigh of relief to be with Hinata and even Shino.

”Suck it up, Naruto!” Iruka-sensei yells at him, forcing the boy to sit back down. Naruto immediately listens, a pout on his lips.

From below, Sasuke rolls his eyes and mutters, “Just don’t get in my way, loser.”

”What did you say?!” Naruto exclaims angrily.

”Hard of hearing?” Sasuke scoffs.

Mikaze-sensei tilts his head, reminded of his two students from long ago. Similarly enough, one an Uchiha and another a Hatake, but an orphan nonetheless. Though, the roles they had now are opposites. He winces. It took Obito’s death for his young Jounin student to admit they were friends. He sincerely hopes the same is not for them.

”Knock it off, Naruto,” Sakura retorts.

Iruka clears his throat to gather everyone’s attention and to cut off the argument arising between Squad Seven. Naruto grumpily listens in:

”After lunch, you’ll meet your new jounin teachers. Until then, class dismissed,” Iruka-sensei announces, shooing all of them away.

Naruto waves goodbye to Shikamaru and Chouji, walking toward where Sakura and— he furrows his brows. Sasuke seems to have already left, running by the looks of it. He rolls his eyes but hides it away as soon as the pink-haired girl looks at him.

”What do you want?” She questions rudely, a glare on her face. For some reason, she seems to not like him at all. Though, Naruto can tell it has nothing to do with the little secret he has sealed inside him. Maybe it has to do with Sasuke, he realizes.

”Since we’re in the same group, I was thinking we could have lunch together and get to know each other,” Naruto offers, grinning up at her. He did not like that he was one of the shortest from all his classmates.

Sakura hums angrily, crossing her arms. “How could that thought even cross your mind? Naruto,” she glares at him fiercely, “you’re annoying.” She turns around and calls out for their other teammate.

Naruto is left alone, his heart heavy and dull. Annoying, huh? Once those words would have broken his heart completely due to his crush on her. Now, however, he thinks that maybe this team will not be close… at all. Sakura and Sasuke hate him, and he happens to dislike the Uchiha.

What a mess.

”No one calls my Naruto annoying,” Mikaze-sensei says under his breath, glaring at the girl before he stops himself from going further. Well, now. It seems he is very protective of him. As a father, good. As Hokage, maybe he should work on that.

Naruto turns around, looking around to see if he can find any of his friends before deciding the easiest way was to look from the roofs or trees. Naruto jumps high, landing with perfect balance before subtly squinting and letting his ears do their work. Due to the fox inside him, if he focuses on one specific part of his body or sense, then he is able to have better sense than others. Sometimes. Truly more when the fox is asleep since then he isn’t trying to threaten him or make fun of him or convince him to kill everyone. Naruto frowns a bit barely realizing that such thoughts aren’t exactly normal.

Though, it is all forgotten when he spots Shikamaru and Chouji having lunch together, this time with Ino with them. Naruto quickly runs toward them, jumping from one place to the other before he reaches his destination. Ino squeals in surprise, clearly not expecting him while the other two (or well Chouji) brighten up. Shikamaru simply waves his hand in salution.

”What are you doing here?” Ino demands, hand put beside her waist.

”He always eats with us,” Chouji raises his hand, and Shikamaru simply hands Naruto his own rice to eat considering his mother has prepared for him to share his food. Naruto mindlessly takes it, a small thanks being said and he sits down with them.

Ino huffs with annoyance. “Yeah, well— this is a team lunch, not team plus Naruto,” she retorts.

”I tried to do the same but Sakura’s after Sasuke and who knows where he ran off to. Not that I’d want to eat lunch with him,” Naruto defends himself, and he turns his head away in defiance.

The blonde girl gasps, glaring hotly at Naruto. “How can you say that about Sasuke!?”

Naruto winces at the highness of her voice while Shikamaru groans as if exasperated by their existence. “Maybe because it’s true,” Shikamaru responds back spitefully. “I don’t wanna be on a team with you, but at least I understand the importance of it. We’re a team, that means you’re my comrade and we’ll need to work together to complete missions and I protect you, and you protect me. Sasuke, on the other hand, has no interest in working with anyone and it’s been like that for ages.”

”Yeah, he never liked joining in anything team related. Even as younger kids,” Chouji inputs thoughtfully. They all understand that he means even before the Uchiha Massacre.

Naruto sighs at the direction their conversation is heading in. “Yeah… I’ll just give him the benefit of the doubt, y’know? I really want to be a great ninja and I’m not gonna let one small problem ruin things for me,” he claims determinedly.

”Just give him one of your speeches,” Shikamaru says lazily, leaning against the blond and slowly begins to close his eyes. At least until Ino slaps his cheek and he scoffs in annoyance. To him, women are so troublesome. He lies this time, purposefully ignoring the girl and instead rests his head on his friend’s lap.

”Eh? Whatcha mean by that, Shika?” Naruto tilts his head and looks down at the boy.

Chouji snickers and adds, “Sometimes you do this thing where when you’re really passionate about something you go on this… well, you become really inspirational.”

Mikaze-sensei bursts out in laughter and Naruto’s cheeks blossom brightly. Even Ino appears amused. Shikamaru opens one eye and subtly smirks at him.

”You usually add your name somewhere in there,” he adds helpfully.

”They are not wrong at all,” Mikaze laughs warmly. “It’s a good quality to have, actually. Your speeches tend to inspire others which is good for leaders. You are an honest kid, Naruto. When you make a promise, you like to honor it. Not everyone is like you.”

Naruto groans. “Sasuke seems like the person that needs to be beaten to make him understand and maybe even a speech,” he gives in, thinking more about the Uchiha. His own words make him hum. “Hmm… he does think himself better than everyone and never agrees to our rivalry so— I’ve got it! I have to make him acknowledge me.”

”That’s what you’ve been doing for years,” Shikamaru points out which he is not wrong. Every time Naruto had the chance, he would try and get Sasuke to fight and whenever he actually would agree, the Uchiha would beat him.

He rubs the back of his neck self-consciously. “Ya, but this time I’ll have some wins, believe it!”

Shikamaru closes his eyes again. “Yeah, yeah, you know I always do,” he sighs his agreement. Chouji nods along with him. Ino stays quiet, looking at the three of them curiously as if barely realizing that they truly were friends. Her eyebrows raise, and she hums to herself, wondering.

Mikaze-sensei watches the young blond and the way he yawns tiredly, still exhausted from the day before. And Shikamaru sleeping on him probably isn’t helping much, but he knows Naruto does not mind when his friend does anything like that so he says nothing of it. The two boys ever since that day have become real close and he knows the Nara has a strong sense of loyalty and Naruto obviously does as well. In a way, they balance each other in normality. Naruto as the sun; Shikamaru as the shadows. The blond with his energetic moods and the other usually lazying about. One logical, the other emotional. And yet, they motivate each other to do what they usually detest.

Ino glances at Chouji and whispers, “Have they always been this close?”

”It started two years ago,” Chouji answers nonchalantly. “We’ve talked with him before but Shikamaru just started to bring him along more often and Naruto’s a really fun guy.”

”Interesting,” she murmurs to herself. Maybe her team won’t be so boring as she thought, but it was kind of unfortunate the interesting part belonged to Squad Seven.

Once lunch finished, Naruto had fallen asleep along with Shikamaru and the two were forced awake by Ino yanking onto their ears and yelling in exasperation. The blond hissed in surprise and pain, rubbing his ear with comfort as he glared right at her. Ino ignored his and Shikamaru’s glare and began storming off, forcing everyone to catch up to her.

”And you, Naruto, did you even sleep comfortably in that position? My back would be hurting if I did that,” Ino complains, arms crossed as she walks inside the classroom.

Naruto shrugs, “I’ve just been tired these past few days, y’know?”

”Shikamaru was on your lap and you laid your head on his chest. Your body literally bended I don’t think even I can do that,” she says loudly, putting her hands up in defeat. Shikamaru mutters something under his breath and she glares at him afterwards. “Oh, shut up. I’m not surprised you didn’t even feel him, you could probably sleep through an invasion.”

The Nara had no intention in correcting her. He happens to be a light sleeper despite being able to sleep anywhere which makes sense for his clan. Because yeah, they are lazy, but they are also incredibly smart and strategic and the Village always ask for their help so they must always be prepared even if they don’t want to be. So he knew Naruto had laid on him but there was no real emergency so he just let it happen. Plus, his friend has appeared more tired than usual so it makes sense.

”Ah, I’m glad you’re all back,” Iruka-sensei smiles. He has his stuff already packed alerting the students that he was leaving. “Your senseis will be arriving shortly. Remember to be good for them now… Naruto,” he reminds.

Naruto whines, “Iruka-sensei! I’m always good.”

Iruka chuckles at the blond before saying his goodbyes once more and then leaving. Naruto laid his chin on his palm and watches as Shikamaru takes out a photograph of a deer.

”That’s mine,” he points out. “I named him Naru because he’s as troubling as you.”

Naruto’s eyes sparkle. “I want to meet him,” he breathes out. He furrows his brows and stares at Shikamaru with pleading eyes. “Please, Shikamaru!”

Shikamaru graciously turns away knowing those eyes were dangerous. Damn his bright blue eyes. When they sparkle, Naruto can do anything he wants.

”Nara deers don’t take kindly to just anyone,” Shikamaru tries to deny. He already knows that a pout has grown in his lips and he sighs out, “but we’ll try.”

His parents were going to kill him. Shikamaru begins to think about his funeral before his thoughts are taken care of as the door opens and in enters a jounin shinobi, his dark hair spiky on top and the Nara knows about him immediately, knows who he is.

”Uh…” the man begins, looking around until he spots three familiar looking children. Then he says, “I’m here for Squad Ten.”

Naruto pouts once more when Shikamaru and Chouji stand up. The Nara gently pats his head before he waves goodbye and Chouji calls out a ‘see ya later!’. Ino simply rolls her eyes at him, but it is less hostile than previously so Naruto does not mind. Once they leave, he sits alone and moves to the far corner by the windows.

As to make conversation with his daily ghost, he begins to sign some signals he has seen ANBU do. Mikaze-sensei easily recognizes them and responds back.

Bored, Naruto signs.

Mikaze-sensei gently shakes his head and replies, Talk?

I can’t, responds back the younger blond.

”But I can, so do you usually let your friends take a nap on your lap?” Mikaze-sensei mentions casually, and starts to snicker at the annoyed look that flashes onto Naruto’s face. “What? You know I’m right. But in all seriousness, I’m glad you have friends like him and Chouji. They’re good for you.”

Shut up, Naruto signs back. He thinks for a moment before adding, Please.

Mikaze-sensei snorts in amusement. “At least one can’t say you don’t have manners,” he says wryly. “And I thought you wanted me to talk. Can’t make up your mind, now can you?”

”It’ll keep you busy while you wait for your sensei, it’s not like you’ll start talking to those two,” Mikaze shrugs, and he starts to go on about the importance of teamwork and making sure to master a jutsu before trying out a new one which is why instead of also doing the Multi-Shuriken Clone jutsu, he will need to get the clone explosion right but he has to work on it with his new sensei and—

So much more words. And Naruto so tired to fully comprehend. At one point he senses something outside, very vaguely, but it goes ignored because man, Mikaze surely knows how to ramble.

It lasts for hours.

Because his sensei still does not arrive.

All the others have long since vanished except him, Sakura, and Sasuke. Naruto groans to himself and finally, Mikaze-sensei stops his lesson and quietens down.

”Your sensei is really late,” he hums thoughtfully. “It reminds me of a student of mine. He would always be late to every one of our meetups because he would go help anyone when he saw them in trouble. Sweet kid, you remind me a lot of him, but also it was very tiring to wait for him all the time.”

An idea pops onto Naruto’s mind. If his sensei is going to be late, then he will have to meet Uzumaki Naruto the Leaf’s future Hokage and former (and current) prankster. He heads to the door and places the chalkboard eraser on top so when he or she opens the door, it’ll fall on his head. Simple, really, but his pranking supplies aren’t exactly on the room— Naruto slips behind Iruka-sensei’s desk and rummages through his stuff, thankful when he sees no perverted magazine and instead gathers some of the whip cream he leaves for his homemade coffee.

Mikaze-sensei sighs at his tactics but doesn’t stop him.

”Naruto, sit back down!” Sakura demands. She goes ignored and frankly she looks quite insulted by it.

Naruto walks out of the room, opens the door and lets the erase fall so he looks up. Then he steps forward and looks down— Ah, he thinks to himself. He crouches down to the floor and instantly takes out his kunei, opening up the floorboard and then leaving it back down. If his calculations are right, their new sensei will walk inside, have the eraser drop on his head (and he’d probably have it done on purpose) and then place his foot here which would cause the floorboard piece to go downwards and the whip cream would fly up to his face.

”You’re asking for trouble. You know you shouldn’t do that,” Sakura scoffs, her hands directly on her waist. Though, something tells Naruto she doesn’t really mind as much.

Sasuke grunts. “Hn. Our teacher’s a Jounin— an elite ninja. You think he’d fall for that?”

Before Naruto can answer, he senses a chakra presence nearby and so he jumps back to a random seat and lies in his seat, looking back at the Uchiha and offering a shrug. If it works, great! Their sensei deserves it. If it doesn’t, then too bad. Life goes on. Maybe he’ll get in trouble, but a little prank is way less than hours late. It is not like it is dangerous.

”Yeah!” Sakura cries out in agreement, unaware of the presence nearing. “Sasuke’s right. You’re so clueless, Naruto.”

All three of them quieten down once they see a hand appear by the door, and Mikaze-sensei places himself next to Naruto with the same expression as his secret son. Their sensei’s head appears first and the eraser smacks his head and bounces. He stills for a moment, looks up and then takes a step forward. The whip cream he placed on the floor flew upwards and hit the new sensei’s mask he wears over his mouth.

Beside him, Mikaze-sensei gapes openly, instantly recognizing the Jounin that stands by the door.

Naruto grins, and then his smile drops slowly when the silver-haired man takes off his now dirty-mask and there already lies another one underneath.

”Kakashi?” Mikaze-sensei whispers, and Naruto forces himself not to look at the ghost recognizing the name to have been one of his students. Still, he pouts because he at least wanted the man to go wash his face but alas, he was pretty smart. Someone must have warned him and he played along.

“Maybe if I placed the whip cream a bit more…” Naruto stands from his place, going in front of the masked man but instead crouching to get a better look. He points a little more to the edge and then pretends to fire it up, trying to imagine the throw and where it would hit. “Ah! I didn’t account for his size!”

He lets out a sigh and bows his head gently. “I am disappointed,” Naruto mutters to himself. “It’s my height, isn’t it? Why couldn’t I be tall?”

”I’m sorry, sensei,” Sakura is quick to apologize on behalf of Naruto, who sits on the ground with his arms crossed and eyes staring up. Their new sensei had a blank expression,  very shinobi like but secretly only done so because of his pure confusion. “I told him not to do it but he wouldn’t listen.”

”I am so happy you’re alive and well. It’s so good to see you,” Mikaze-sensei continues on, and Naruto finally gets out of his own world to shoot him a worried look. He feels bad for the ghost. All this time only he can see him and all he does is stare after those that used to be his comrade. And now even more so with his former student. Mmh, maybe his sensei will be as cool as him. Not that Mikaze was that cool despite being the Fourth… he still is really weird. Unbeknownst to him, the Fourth Hokage had also thought to himself ‘he was young to take care of his son but why had the boy at least not known of him until he asked about him?’.

Naruto glances up as the silver-haired Jounin crouches down, grabs the eraser, and stands up again while staring down at all three of them. “Hm,” the man finally lets out a sound, and Naruto only sees one eye as the other is covered, but he can tell its staring at them lazily. He’s spent enough time with Shikamaru to know that. “How can I put this? My first impression of this group…”

He places a hand on his chin and continues, “You’re a bunch of idiots.”

All brand new genin lower their heads in disappointment before Naruto regains his composure. While he analyzes the man before them, something strikes him odd. He levels himself closer to their sensei and tilts his head, squinting.

”You seem familiar, ya know?” Naruto hums in thought, mimicking the action his sensei had done of placing his hand under his chin. Mikaze-sensei finishes his rambling and turns slightly toward the young blond, looking at him curiously.

”He does? Where have you seen him?” Mikaze-sensei wonders. He certainly has not.

Naruto ponders some more, looking off into the distance unaware of the secret sweatdrop his sensei has, and then Naruto shrugs. “Eh, I can’t remember why,” he admits defeatedly.

Their actual introduction occurs out in the open, the three genin sitting the closest they ever been with each other while their sensei in front of them. Naruto sits in the right side of his sensei’s view and excitedly listens in— he will finally become a ninja!

”He really let his hair grow out, and those masks truly stick to his face,” Mikaze-sensei mutters loudly. Naruto hides a sound of resignation as the man practically zooms to his former student and walks around him still in disbelief. That sensei of his truly can be weird at times.

”Why don’t you introduce yourselves one at a time?” Their new sensei suggests, leaning against a rail as he stares down at the three of them. He takes the time to study them on his own. First, on the furthest right sits the pink-haired girl known as Haruno Sakura. The smartest girl from her class. While a genius, she does not seem to have enough strength and her desire to become a ninja is close to none unlike her desire to be with the boy that sits beside her. Uchiha Sasuke, the only Uchiha left in Konoha. The Rookie of the year, and also appearing to be the strongest of his class.

And lastly, a boy he has known for twelve hidden years, but never properly faced (unless one counts the incident when he was four years old and well, it’s a long story but he’s sure the kid doesn’t remember that). He has blond hair and bright blue eyes the same as his father, and yet the energy he has resembles his mother’s. He seems more mature than before. While he had pulled a prank on him, there had been less of his usual tactics.

”Introduce ourselves?” Sakura wonders out loud. “Well, what are we supposed to say?”

Their sensei shrugs and answers, “Things you like. Things you hate. Dreams for the future. Hobbies. Things like that.”

Naruto brightens up. “Ooh, can I go first?” He questions, staring up at their sensei with a hopeful glance.

“Go ahead, blondie,” the silver-haired Jounin waves. Mikaze-sensei hums to himself as if noting a difference or realization.

”Great! Well, hehe, my name’s Uzumaki Naruto,” the blond boy begins, fixing his headband that Iruka gave him. He hums thoughtfully before continuing with the same enthusiasm, “I like instant ramen—” from now behind him, he hears Mikaze-sensei mutter ‘in love with more like it’ but he ignores him “—in a cup, and I really like the ramen Iruka-sensei always takes me to because of Teuchi and Ayame. Oh! And my friends, I like them too they’re great. Oh, and the Third, Iruka, and Mikaze are included into that—“ while he receives an odd look from his new sensei, the elder blond happily smiles “—but I hate the three minutes you have to wait after you pour water into ramen cup and oh, I hate traitors or anyone that hurts their friends, that’s not right!”

At his outburst, the other three look at him in surprise. It takes a moment for the silver-haired man to realize why Naruto sounds so passionate about it. Just recently he had been involved in a B-rank case with Mizuki’s betrayal and deception. According to the Third Hokage, Naruto is likely to always keep surprising him no matter all the facts he knows.

”My hobby’s eating different kinds of ramen and comparin’ them, watering my three plants, training, and hanging out with Shikamaru and Chouji!” Naruto continues happily, eyes shining. And then, his usual determination each time the thought of the future comes to mind. “And my future dream is to be the greatest Hokage to protect my precious village and people!”

Their sensei simply blinks at him and silently thinks, He certainly has grown…

”Good,” he tells the blond boy. “Next.”

”I’m Haruno Sakura,” the pink-haired girl says happily. “What I like— uh— I mean, the person I like is—” she giggles and tries to discreetly look at Sasuke “uh, my hobby is— uh—” she does it again “my dream for the future is—”

Naruto watches as she squeals even louder and he’s almost afraid that her nose will begin to bleed at whatever thought she seems to have. Maybe she is also a pervert? Unconsciously, he scoots over further away from his two teammates.

“And? What do you hate?” Their sensei asks after a while, a hidden sweatdrop at the girl’s reaction. Truthfully, Naruto seems to be the most normal. In conversation, at least.

”Naruto!” Sakura yells, shooting him a glare.

The young blond jumps in surprise and glares back. Her eyes widen in disbelief and he turns away defiantly.

”Oh, don’t listen to her Naruto. She’s probably just having an off day,” Mikaze-sensei comforts.

Though, Naruto noticeably brightens up when he spots Shikamaru arrive from the side. He waves enthusiastically while the Nara simply nods, notices that he still appears busy, and finds a spot to rest under the tree nearby. Naruto refocuses back to his team, who stare at him almost blankly before the elder of them all (excluding the ghost) clears his throat.

Their sensei sighs and looks at the last person. “And you, broody?”

Sasuke keeps his gaze on the ground, hands placed together while he answers coldly, “My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I hate a lot things, and I don’t particularly like anything.” Sakura gasps, and Naruto frowns. That sounds a lot like something Mikaze-sensei warned him against in becoming or doing. “What I have is not a dream because I will make it a reality. I’m going to restore my clan and destroy a certain someone.”

A long silence. Not even Mikaze-sensei is able to come up with something to say.

”Revenge? What’s that gonna solve?” Naruto wonders out loud and he stiffens at the coldness Sasuke’s stare radiates off. Oh, he messed up. He takes the sensation considering he has dealt with worse and so instead, he gives him an unamused look. Sasuke scowls back at him.

”O…kay,” their sensei interrupts them. “You’re each unique—”

Naruto snaps his head toward their sensei and he stands up accusingly, pointing a finger. “Hey! You have to introduce yourself too, sensei!”

He knew his name considering Mikaze-sensei has not shut up about him, but it is not like the man knew that.

”Oh,” the Jounin says with a bored tone. He shrugs. “I’m Hatake Kakashi. Things I like and things I hate— mmh, I don’t feel like telling you that. My dreams for the future— never really thought about it. As for my hobbies— I have lots of hobbies.”

Naruto waits, and then he scowls angrily, a tick growing on the side of his head. Sandals scrubbing against the floor. “Oi, you gave us absolutely nothing except your name! I bet I can say more stuff than you,” he retorts, crossing his arms. The Fourth silently begins to vaguely imagine his son with red hair and pales, remembering his wife’s vivid anger just the same.

“Mmh, can you?” Kakashi-sensei wonders, “Do tell.”

”I wonder why he’s all moody himself,” Mikaze-sensei asks. He gives Naruto a light smirk. “Tell him you heard from a man in a green spandex suit of how he lost a challenge and had to burn his beloved set of books since he lost.”

Naruto repeats what Mikaze-sensei mentioned and his new sensei widens his eyes briefly.

”Well, I have to talk to a certain someone,” Kakashi-sensei mutters bitterly. He gives Naruto an eye smile. “You’re certainly resourceful, aren’t you? But I do not see how that proves anything.”

The young blond shrugs. “Don’t ya? That means you do have a friend, or a rival at least and one doesn’t necessarily hate their rivals since it helps them become strong, ‘ttebayo. Unless they’re mean or evil. And I think those books are a certain perverted ones which indicates to—”

“You certainly are interesting,” Kakashi-sensei responds back, interrupting the rest of what Naruto was gonna say. “But I give. Fine then. I do happen to like reading, I hate all of you, my dream is to be in peace, and my hobbies are again, reading and training. Good, now?”

Naruto hums happily, his smile back on his face. Kakashi-sensei sweatdrops and he oddly finds himself remembering an older redheaded kunoichi. Angry in one minute and back to being happy in less than a second. He shudders at the thought unknowing that a certain ghost nicknamed Mikaze-sensei does the same thing.

”Any who, as I was saying before this cute little blond interrupted me,” Kakashi-sensei begins to continue, giving Naruto a pointed look though not hostile at all. The ones Sakura and Sasuke gave him totally are, but oh well. He sheepishly scratches the back of his neck. “You’re each unique, and you have your own ideas. We’ll have our first mission tomorrow.”

Naruto perks up. “Mission, seriously? What kind?” His enthusiasm will be going off the charts.

“It’s a task the four of us will do together,” Kakashi-sensei answers. He expects Naruto to continue bothering him, but he does not. Instead, he stares at him in a way that he obviously means for him to continue. So he does. “We’re doing a survival exercise.”

The Kyuubi-holder tilts his head while Sakura questions, “I thought we were supposed to have a real mission, not more practice! We already did this stuff at the Academy.”

”This is not like your previous training,” Kakashi-sensei disagrees. He laughs, and the children aren’t particularly satisfied with the response since it’s filled with a sense of mysterious and it seems like such a drag to find out. “If I tell you what it is, you won’t like it.”

Now that captures all of their attention.

”Yeah, yeah, who cares, why don’t you tell us already?” Naruto waves off.

”Of the 27 graduates who just came here, only  nine will actually be accepted as genin. The other 18 will be weeded out and sent back to the Academy,” Kakashi-sensei reveals. Naruto openly gapes at him and briefly glances back at Mikaze-sensei, he who turns away instead. The younger blond scowls at him silently. “In other words, this is a pass or fail test. And the chance that you’ll fail is about 66%.”

No, Naruto cries inside his own mind, thoughts clouding. His hands turn to fist and he closes them tightly, focusing on one single goal at the moment: pass the damn test. He glares up at Kakashi-sensei and claims determinedly, “Well, I don’t know if I’ll pass or fail, but I’m gonna give it my very best, believe it!”

Kakashi-sensei shrugs. “I decide whether you pass or fail. Be at the designated training spot at 5:00 am, and bring your ninja gear.” He stands up and faces away from them. “That’s it. Dismissed. Oh, and tomorrow it’s best if you skip breakfast, or else you’ll puke.”

Naruto makes a face from behind and huffs silently. Now that he will definitely not be doing. Iruka-sensei and Mikaze-sensei always told him breakfast was a very important meal since it provided one with energy to suffice the time from then and lunch. Plus, that one time he went without breakfast for a week and then running from ANBU had been even more painful than when he ate breakfast so he knows for a fact that statement is not true.

Kakashi-sensei shunshins away and Naruto perks up at the jutsu, wanting to figure that one as well. Though, he looks back at his teammates and he offers, “We can go have a Squad Seven dinner—”

”Hn,” Sasuke begins to walk away and Sakura follows him close behind. Naruto sighs at the two of them, glancing back at Shikamaru’s sleepy figure before deciding to at least yell out:

”You two might wanna eat breakfast tomorrow!” Naruto catches their attention. “He recommended not to, but trust me on that and you’ll see why tomorrow!”

Though they had paused, once he stopped talking, they still went on their way. Naruto frowns at their lack of friendship before shaking his head. He wakes up the Nara and asks, “Didn’t you say your mom wanted us at your house?”

Shikamaru rubs his eyes and sighs. “So troublesome.”

Chapter Text

Dinner at the Nara’s happens to be a common occurrence, usually done twice a week or so and Yoshino had even taught Naruto some recipes when hearing of how Iruka-sensei helped him create his own food. Now he sits with them completely filled up while Shikamaru tells them about his new team and what they did for the past few hours.

Naruto blanches upon hearing that Shikamaru had passed his test and pouts to himself. He almost interrupted his friend before the image of Iruka-sensei popped into his head and he quickly got rid of that idea. Soon, however, when the Nara’s turned to him, Naruto immediately got into a jittery mood.

”I’m on Squad Seven, and our sensei was hours late,” Naruto groans exasperated. The Nara Clan leader raises his brows, but a knowing expression befalls on his face. “Kakashi-sensei said we’ll take our test tomorrow and at five in the morning, ya know? He also told us not to eat breakfast which I’m gonna do anyway.”

Yoshino gasps and raises a spoon at him. “Good, you better or else I’ll like to have a talk with that lazy sensei of yours.”

At the word ‘lazy’, Shikaku and Shikamaru let out a small sigh in unison. Naruto laughs quietly and nods his agreement. Though, Shikaku straightens up slightly and stares at the blond with a look of concern that he has ever seen only appear when he looks at his wife and son.

”Speaking of senseis, Naruto, how are you faring?” Shikaku questions vaguely, aware of the incident that occur a few days ago. He had to, as leader of the Jounin and a clan leader as well. Naruto furrows his brows in confusion before realizing what he meant. The youngest of them all awkwardly rubs the back of his neck.

”Er— I’m fine. Still kind of tired, but capable of moving, ‘ttebayo!” Naruto informs happily.

Shikaku hums in response. “Well, I’m glad. Though, Naruto, I should warn you— I know some of Kakashi and he’s one of the greatest Jounin, albeit always late and sometimes lazy, but he has never passed a Genin team for the last few years,” he warns the blond.

Naruto frowns, recognizing the disadvantage before he shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. I already told him I’d do my best and I’m going to pass that test no matter what or how long until I do,” he says confidently. Shikaku chuckles and lets the conversation fade while Shikamaru simply shrugs uncaringly.

“You wanna take a nap?” Shikamaru takes the chance to ask, remembering what happened earlier on the day.

The blond laughs awkwardly before he nods slowly, “Yeah. I should probably rest as much as I can before tomorrow anyway.”

Shikamaru didn’t even need to listen to his reasoning as he simply stands up, says goodbye to his parents, and then drags Naruto toward his room with an odd sort of motivation. Naruto snickers to himself but lets the Nara do as he wishes, waving and thanking his parents.

By the time Mikaze-sensei goes to check on Naruto, he spots the blond sleeping beside Shikamaru, all sprawled on him that he only ever wished he was a solid person to take a picture of them. Thankfully for him, however, Yoshino had gone up to check on the boys some time later and had instantly squealed upon seeing the two taking comfort from each other. Her first instinct as a mother was to take a picture.

*

Naruto arrives at the designated area Kakashi-sensei had warned them on. Mikaze-sensei told him he would be at the Hokage Tower considering he did not want to distract him when taking the test. Unlike the other two, he seems to have the most energy though that might have to do with him having slept for a long time at the Nara’s. He even woke up to make himself breakfast and the leftovers he decided to bring for the other two. The pack Iruka-sensei once gave him rests over his waist with three bentos inside a scroll, a trick Mikaze had taught him and said there was much more to learn but only ever when he passes the Chunin exams.

”Good morning, Sakura… Sasuke,” Naruto greets, one friendlier than the other. The Uchiha ignores him while the pink-haired kunoichi turns away in annoyance. Naruto laughs awkwardly, an embarrassed look on his face as he said, “I’ve brought food in case you hadn’t eaten yet.”

”Dumb Naruto! Sensei told us not to eat!” Sakura snaps, glaring at him from the side. Her stomach growls and her tough exterior drops slightly before she huffs. Naruto can tell Sasuke is also hungry, but those two seem far too stubborn to give in immediately.

The blond ninja sighs at them before taking out the scroll, pouring some of his chakra to open it and laid down the boxes in the middle where they are all separated by. He grabs one if the boxes and puts it back inside considering he ate already and though it was Kakashi-sensei that warned them not to eat, he might as well leave a bento box for his teacher as well.

Naruto frowns slightly before he sits down, impatient but knowing thinking about it would be useless. With his eyes closed, he lets himself lean against the tree in thought. Without having had Mikaze-sensei, Naruto knows he would be even lonelier and he would know nothing, especially that what he knows now. He is lucky the Fourth Hokage’s ghost had decided to stick with him.

When he opens his eyes, Naruto stumbles and falls, his hand barely catching his body and he gasps at the splash of water falling onto his face. His eyes widen, instantly recognizing the area despite not having been there many tunes.

Oh no, not here!

Naruto gets up and defeatedly faces the beast inside him. The Kyuubi who already had his eyes opened and angry as always. The air cool and with such power that for a moment it wants to make Naruto flee but he holds himself together. This is his mindspace and currently, he is in control.

”In control, huh? Soon you’ll be mine. Your ninja journey has just begun and I see nothing but failure for you,” the fox chuckles wickedly. Intended hatred radiated toward Naruto.

The young blond scowls at him. “If you’re such a psychic why’d you let yourself get sealed in me, mmh?” Naruto retorts back determinedly. He stomps his foot and points an accusing finger at him. “That wasn’t very smart of ya, dattebayo!”

The Nine Tails growls, “I’m going to kill you.”

”Yeah, yeah, keep saying that instead of admitting that I’m right and you’re wrong,” Naruto huffs in annoyance. His eyebrows twitch when the fox bares his teeth at him. “Y’know how annoyin’ I am so don’t act all surprised.”

”Brat,” the Nine Tails scoffs.

Naruto snickers, “Dumb fox.”

He opens his eyes to actual reality in quick motion, wanting to avoid being devoured by the beast inside him. Naruto lets out a shaky sigh before he chuckles to himself, ignoring the way he can practically hear the beast inside him roaring out in anger. He glances at his teammates and then where he left the food and runs a hand through his face disappointedly.

They sit there for two hours.

Their stomach growling even more.

Naruto sighs, “Seriously? C’mon guys I didn’t poison the food and what’s Kakashi-sensei’s gonna do if he isn’t here?”

Sasuke lets out the same sound as always while Sakura mimics him, lest bit more squeakier. Naruto frowns at them before deciding a different tactic:

”Okay, look at it this way,” Naruto exhales in annoyance. “He’s already two hours late and he told us to meet at 5. Obviously, he’s not here so he ignored his own orders. He suggested we should not eat. But since he ignored his own words, I say we also do and instead of suffering, you eat.”

”I mean… I guess,” Sakura says slowly. Except, she still does not get up and instead glances at Sasuke. Naruto cannot help but wonder when his crush on her vanished and is thankful that it did because he was never like that, right? He didn't depend on her to make a decision so he can copy her. Naruto just simply does not understand girls like her. Ayame has never tried to lessen herself to the likes of men and she’s just like an older sister with an awesome punch and also very sweet and caring.

Naruto seems to need to convince the Uchiha before Sakura can choose anything for herself, it seems.

He needs to think about this logically. Now, what would Shikamaru or Mikaze-sensei come up with? Why has Kakashi-sensei say it is best to not eat food? Naruto has gone a week without food once when he was even younger and had not met Teuchi and his daughter. His stomach was practically empty’s and he swears he had just barely survived before he managed to find something— a berry of a kind that then made him sick so it was probably poisoned but it helped him survive afterwards either way. Now that he thinks about it, the fox probably had helped.

Huh, thanks, dumb fox, he cannot help but think to himself. Naruto senses a mixture of shock and yet back to anger and their connection abruptly cuts off. He ignores it.

Now, where was he again? Oh!

”I wonder why he told us not to eat,” Naruto wonders loudly, hoping the Uchiha would fam into his trap. He does not, but Sakura does.

”Because he said it would make us sick,” she repeats with annoyance. “Are you deaf as you are dumb?!”

Naruto ignores the insult and continues, “Yeah, but at this point we’d have waited out the food and even so, food gives us energy. It’s not like you see ninjas starve themselves before they go on a mission. That’s dumb, they’d kill themselves faster.”

At that, Sasuke side eyes Naruto’s homemade food and then hums, “That’s surprisingly insightful of you. Fine.”

He stands up almost tensely before snatching one of the bento box and heading back to his seat. Sakura had watched him do so with wide eyes before she instantly stands up and does the same, rushing back to her seat and almost instantly devouring the food. Naruto grins inwardly, leaning back against the tree.

Thank you, Shikamaru. Mikaze-sensei.

In one place where a young boy sits beside his annoying blonde and bossy teammate and the other his best friend, the young boy sneezes randomly earning him a chuckle from his new sensei.

”Someone must be thinking or talking about you,” Asuma-sensei tells him in a joking manner.

Shikamaru groans, “They better stop then.”

In another, where one Hokage follows another to see more of how the village is doing and as to not be such a pain to his son. He sneezes and then frowns in thought.

“Huh, people still think of me. I hope it’s Naruto,” the Fourth Hokage gushes to himself.

Naruto begins to pace around and then finds himself behind some trees. He groans at how late it now was and really, he could be barely waking up now or trying to find something else to do but no, that damn sensei of his. Still, he does really look familiar to him. Or feel familiar. His presence didn’t seem to look like he ever hated Naruto. Certainly awkward at times, maybe curious, and weirdly sad and guilty, but not one of disgust or hatred. But anyway, Naruto’s bored. Extremely so and that is still possibly the worst thing to ever happen to him. He’s an hyperactive kid and even if Mikaze-sensei has been teaching him patience for quite some time now, he’s still Uzumaki Naruto.

”Multi Shadow Clone jutsu,” Naruto formates, creating the necessary hand signals before two clones pop into existence. The two other him grin at each other before looking at him expectantly.

”Hiya boss!”

”What do we do now?”

Naruto waves the question off and shrugs, “Eh. Nothing I’m just bored.” He tilts his head questioningly and then asks, “If you’re me, then do we think the same? Like what am I thinking now?”

”Ramen,” the two other sigh knowingly.

The original blond reddens and laughs awkwardly. “I walked right into that one,” Naruto mutters to himself.

”We didn’t need to read your mind,” one of them say in response. “But we were also thinking it before you called us up. I think… the memory that we gain afterwards like Mikaze-sensei taught us can change us. Or stuff.”

The other looks at the clone beside him weirdly. “That was smart of you to say. Sort of,” he replies with a snort.

Naruto glances between the two. “So if you went through long enough with just handling a certain thing I told you to do, your personality would grow around that?”

”Eh, maybe, I don’t know we usually do stuff together, y’know,” the first clone responds with a shrug. “But like that Naruto that went to the library and had to read those books? He got interested in some and came back almost like a nerd.”

”If he is us then we came back like a nerd,” the other clone replies in horror.

Naruto scratches his head. “Oh I remember that… that’s probably why I don’t mind reading as much, dattebayo.”

”Scary,” both clones mutter to themselves.

”Aw man, now I’ll feel bad,” Naruto cries. The other two of him look at him in confusion and he explains, “You two are practically like my brothers the more you come out since you can create conversations and think to yourself, ya know? And you guys are awesome for diversions and stuff so like the front lines, except that’s like throwing lives away and dying each time. Not cool.”

One of the Naruto’s look at him oddly, as if realizing something, before he shares a look with the other clone. They both smile.

”It’s alright, boss,” the first clone says nonchalantly.

”Yeah, dude,” the other agrees, “Think of this way… we don’t really die. We just become a part of you again, and so we rest with you and are always there to help. Long as you have enough chakra to conjure us but when do you ever not.”

Naruto brightens up and grins. “You guys are the best! Believe it!”

The clones’ smirk knowingly. “Well, yeah. We’re you.”

”Speaking of us… or me… how are we gonna pass Kakashi-sensei’s test? We can’t fail— I can wait, ya know, but…” Naruto trails off, a frown on his face.

”Mikaze-sensei,” the two other say in unison, heading nodding in agreement. “Mmh, I wonder what he would say?”

Naruto smiles lightly and says, “Probably to be kind to Kakashi-sensei.” That ghost always treats Naruto like a father would to his child, if they were really protective. It was nice even though sometimes annoying. “And to always look underneath the underneath.”

”…Underneath the underneath, huh?” The clone, which Naruto will think as One since he seems to be more on the thoughtful side, mutters. His brows furrow and he tilts his head and Naruto blinks as he sees a familiarity in… well, himself, that he always sees in Mikaze-sensei. Weird. “He does always emphasize on that, right?”

”Oh, yeah. That and umm… protect everyone you can,” Clone Two agrees.

Naruto hums and places a hand on his chin. “That’s gotta mean something. Like a lesson learned or needing to be stuck with. He repeats it so often it probably means something.”

”We won’t figure out Kakashi-sensei’s test without knowing the details first, ya know,” Clone Two inputs. The other two Naruto look at him and he continues with a shrug, “Just try and figure out what’s underneath once we know the test.”

All three of them look up at the sky, noticing the sun shining bright already. Probably would have been a great day to start with if they had not gotten up at five in the morning when the sky was still dark and cold. Naruto squints his eyes, enjoying the light hitting his face before he nods at his clones.

”You two can leave or wait out here,” Naruto waves. One and Two simply shake their head at him before choosing to dispel. Naruto doesn’t regain new memories, but he does receive a ‘Boss’s an idiot even if I am him. From this perspective, he’s too kind’. And also a ‘We got this, believe it’. He hides a grin as he returns back to where Sakura and Sasuke are still waiting, their food long gone.

The pink-haired girl shyly looks down and quietly tells him, “Um, thank you. For the food. Naruto.”

Just as quick as she does so, she looks away. Naruto grins either way and brightly responds, “Yeah, no problem! We’re teammates now, right? Guess some of us have to make sure we’re in top shape.” He laughs away any awkwardness and instead lies down.

In an even quieter voice, the Uchiha mutters, “It was edible.”

Naruto snorts at him. “Is that a compliment?” He knows very well that was the Uchiha’s way in saying ‘thank you’ without actually saying the words. Such a typical Sasuke move. Man, he was annoying, but he was also Rookie of the year so it’s not like he isn’t skilled. Naruto just has to find a way to make him acknowledge him and one day he will respect him. As always, the Uchiha never replies afterwards without a scoff his way.

The young blond raises his head in thought when he senses a presence nearby. He looks interestedly at a random spot in front of them before in less than a second, a figure appears and announces calmly:

”Morning, everyone.”

Kakashi-sensei stands in front of the three genin members, figure leaned back relaxingly and a disinterested tone on his voice. His one eye seems to be staring deep into their souls as it swept from one place to the other and then befalling onto the empty food boxes. His one eyebrow shown raises in thought. Before he can anything, Naruto and Sakura shout angrily, “YOU’RE LATE!”

”Well, well… seems like two of you did not listen to me and ate breakfast,” Kakashi-sensei hums, and the other two stay deadly silent with fear arising. Their comment went ignored which annoyed the two that yelled but all at the same, Sakura was staring at the ground sheepishly.

Naruto quickly interferes, “Nope! I ate too just way earlier than them.” He puts his right hand on his waist and gives their sensei a pointed look. “Ya know, sensei, if you really didn’t want us to eat you could have just ordered us instead.”

”Oh, really?” Their sensei questions innocently. “Why I suppose you’re right, blondie.” He shrugs, as if he cannot do anything about it. Though, he does glance back at the food. “Why are there only two, I wonder.”

The youngest Genin there proudly points to himself. “Well, I wasn’t sure if they would have eaten or not but since I did I knew I had to make some for them too, ya know? I got one for you too, sensei,” Naruto exclaims, patting his pack Iruka gifted him and then taking out a scroll, throwing it toward the silver-haired man to catch.

Though in surprise, Kakashi-sensei catches the scroll with only a brief look in his eyes before relaxing his face once more. He moves the scroll around before opening it, finding a bento box inside as well. His heart clenches, and the movement is familiar and yet stronger than ever, filled with a sort of disbelief that Naruto had gone out of his way for… to make food for him as well. Even though there’s a chance for failure.

”Not that you deserve it for being hours late,” Naruto huffs, an annoyed look plastered on his face. “Why, huh? Stepped on a cracked line or something?”

After catching himself from dwindling in whatever thoughts he had, Kakashi-sensei easily gains back control and replies smoothly, “Well, actually. A black cat crossed my path, so I had to take the long way.”

All three of them give him a dirty look and their sensei shrug, clearing his throat as he tells them, “Let’s get started.” And an eye smile grows.

He takes out a clock and places it down on a cut down tree. Naruto gapes at him slightly before scoffing, a small pout on his lips. He really does not deserve his food. But then again, it would have been rude to give some for Sakura and Sasuke and not their maybe sensei. He would also be on their team, right?

”It’s set for noon,” Kakashi-sensei begins. Naruto watches closely as the man games out two bells, the objects clanging against each other creating a small musical sound. It reminds him of the rattle he once found outside his window, not really an interesting object but he later found out babies love that type of toy and it all felt familiar to Naruto so he still has it, hidden somewhere in one of his drawers. “Your assignment is very simple. You just have to take these bells away from me. That’s all there is to it.”

He jiggles the bells again, and Naruto barely takes a notice with that sound that there are only two.

”If you can’t get them by noon, you go without lunch,” Kakashi-sensei mentions, and then gives Naruto a look. “I suppose I was meant to keep you all starving, but I’m sure by the time lunch comes you’ll get hungry either way.”

Naruto glares at him. “Starving, huh?” He looks away, eyes raging in remembrance. Good thing he ate lunch and brought some for the others. He knows how it is to starve, and he survived, but he wouldn’t wish it on anyone if avoidable.

Noticing the faraway look on Naruto’s face, Kakashi almost lets his facade break, an apology on his lips. Because he knows. He always messes up.

”Wait a minute!” Sakura calls out in surprise. All of them look at her. “There’s three of us. How come there‘s only two bells?”

Kakashi-sensei eye smiles again. “That way, at least one of you will end up tied to a post and ultimately disqualified for failing to complete the mission. That one goes back to the academy.” Naruto growls. “Then again, all three of you could flunk too.”

Naruto just simply hates these tests. He had to try his best, believe it!

”You can use any weapons, including shuriken. If you’re not prepared to kill me, you won’t be able to take the bells,” Kakashi-sensei continues, listing out some ground rules.

Sakura gasps, “Those weapons are too dangerous, sensei!”

Naruto laughs, “It’s not like we’d actually kill him. He is a Jounin and we’re— us.” Though, internally, he was trying to figure out the test. It just doesn’t make sense for him. He isn’t smart like Shikamaru, who probably would have guessed the answer already.

Two bells. Three people. One fails or they all do.

Or they all do?

Before Naruto can think further on that, he hears Kakashi-sensei say, “Class clowns are usually the weakest link. Losers. They have no chance of winning… When I say start, you can begin.”

An offended look crosses his face. “Loser?! And no chance in winning? Gr— I’ll prove you and everyone else wrong, dattebayo! Uzumaki Naruto may be a loser, but I don’t believe in chance or any of that crap! I’ll try and try until I’m dead, and even after that, believe it.”

He ignores the fact that Kakashi-sensei told him he’ll say when to start and quickly charges in, also trying to figure out what the game plan is as he takes out a shuriken and runs toward the man.

The threat of failing is upon them and in many different ways, but this is a test. What type of test? Especially when the task is practically impossible… aim to kill a Jounin? To kill the man that is supposed to be their team leader? It just doesn’t make sense and it is making his head hurt. Naruto silently curses Mikaze-sensei, blaming him for all this thinking.

Look underneath the underneath, Naruto repeats.

All at the same time, as he attacks Kakashi-sensei, his plan of attack goes all around and his arm is being held back, a weapon aimed against him instead. Naruto scowls at himself for being caught unaware. Though, it exposes some of their sensei’s abilities.

”Hmm, I’m starting to like you guys,” their sensei hums to himself, even as Naruto tugs away from his grip and rubs at the spot he held. He lets Naruto return back to his teammates before continuing, “Ninjas must learn to conceal their movements and hide effectively.”

Almost instantly, as the man had been talking Sakura and Sasuke quickly hid away likely under some bushes as they had been taught in the Academy. Naruto quickly conjures up clones and then hid his real self on top of a tree instead, covered by the leaves. His clone stays right on the open.

First stop, diversions. The easiest way to try and see any of the opponent’s abilities and get to safety. And also, Naruto had planned on actually staying there and leaving a clone to hide, but like he told his clones earlier, they’re likely to be used as front lines and Naruto isn’t one to back down from a fight, but Mikaze-sensei told him to use his abilities to help and understand situations clearly. Especially if there is a huge risk.

”You and me, right now!” Clone Naruto exclaims, pointing at Kakashi-sensei. Naruto pays attention to the silver-haired man instead, spotting a puzzled and struck look upon seeing him before it turned into a little exasperation.

Kakashi-sensei stares at him oddly. “You know, compared to the others, you’re a little bit weird.”

”The only weird thing here is your haircut,” Clone Naruto retorts, and the real one awkwardly rubs the back of his neck at that. Well, at least he (or himself) understands the idea. Act like a fool and have a fight of sorts. Naruto watches as he begins running toward his sensei, yelling at the same time and the older man brings his hand to his pockets, aiming to take something out.

”First shinobi lesson: Taijutsu, the physical arts,” Kakashi-sensei mentions nonchalantly. His clone appears confused, especially since the man has a hand in his pack where his weapons should be. But then—

Naruto almost falls and makes a sound that screams ‘I’m here!’. Their sensei, he notes angrily, is a pervert! The nerve of him, taking out that damn perverted book. His clone does not look any better than him, almost face planting into the floor before remembering he should not dispel as quick and instead simply choosing to glare at the man. He, who probably thinks it has to do with him taking out the book, but no. Naruto simply feels insulted on behalf of all of them present.

The book doesn’t automatically confirm his sensei to be a pervert, he’ll give him that. But to read it in front of them!

”Hey!” Clone Naruto yells angrily. Their sensei simply continues reading on and so the clone throws his shuriken toward the book, aiming to destroy it. Although his aim is now good, Kakashi-sensei moves his book away causing it to fail. “The nerve of you, honestly.”

“I have to find out what happens in the story. Don’t let it bother you,” Kakashi-sensei waves off. He flips a page and continues, “With your weak attacks it doesn’t matter if I’m reading or whatever.”

Clone Naruto growls at his words and aims to hit, fist holding out but his sensei dodges its smoothly along with the kick that goes his way. Simple moves as to not dispel the clone yet, but as he aims for another front attack, Naruto watches as their sensei moves fast and has crouched down behind his clone, jutsu hand signal forming on his hand.

The tiger sign, most commonly known for a fire jutsu. Naruto gapes openly, wondering if his sensei truly thought to maim them. His clone likely senses him behind, but the Jounin moves to fast so he simply stays still already knowing he has met his defeat.

“Don’t let your enemy get behind you,” Kakashi-sensei stares either way, not knowing that even Naruto understands the sentiment. But it isn’t like he’s yet revealed any actual moves. He can move fast as well, he knows it. Mikaze-sensei taught him well, believe it!

Naruto widens his eyes in surprise when he hears Sakura from her hiding place instantly yell out, “Naruto! Get out of there, quick! He’s going to destroy you!”

And the thought that she is trying to help him makes him smile. She had admitted to disliking him, but either way, she doesn’t want him hurt. The same way he brought food for them. He may not like Sasuke especially, but he is still a comrade and Mikaze-sensei and Iruka-sensei both have shown him the importance of comradeship.

Even if simply letting Naruto (though he is a fake) get destroy instantly gives an opening for the two other bells.

Huh.

Naruto tilts his head, theory growing. He sits back down, letting the scenes play out for a little longer.

Unfortunately for his clone, Sakura’s warning did not seem to help either way. His clone widens his eyes as their sensei calls out, “Leaf Village secret finger jutsu: A thousand years of death!”

And his fingers goes up, aiming straight at Naruto’s ass causing the clone to go flying off. Naruto raises his eyebrows as his clone lasts for two more seconds before finally— pop! His clone vanishes and he covers his mouth with his hand, sensing the phantom pain left behind as a memory due to the clone’s abilities. His whiskered cheeks redden, this time in anger once more.

That Hatake Kakashi might truly just be a pervert! He thinks to himself angrily. Stupid, goddamn perverts. Though, Naruto’s anger fades quickly as he spots the surprised emotion on his sensei’s face, eye widened and eyebrow raised.

”So, you can create a shadow clone,” Kakashi-sensei reveals, not really questioning the jutsu since Naruto believes the man must have known, but still likely surprised to see it first-hand. “Then where’s the real one? Hmm…”

“Eh, that might be me,” the voice comes from behind one of the bushes, hand on the back of his neck. Kakashi-sensei turns to him and spots Naruto, who’d been hiding behind the bushes the entire time. And his slightly impressed look vanishes upon his reveal.

Well, the original Naruto on top of the tree glances to the water and the figure that slowly appears out of there. That certain clone uses his agility to reach behind their sensei quietly.

The clone that hid on the water (now called ‘Clone Water’ points a kunei behind Kakashi-sensei’s neck and slowly reaches out for the bell. Naruto knows he won’t be able to get it so he isn’t the least worried when his clone speaks. He was supposed to anyway.

”Or maybe it’s me,” Clone Water hums thoughtfully, instantly earning a swish kick on his stomach, hand brushing against the bells as if to say ‘almost gotcha’. A taunt-like image.

The second clone, which Naruto sees as Clone Bush, scrunches his nose lightly. “Hehe, good thing that actually wasn’t me,” he voices out loud. Bush Naruto holds his stomach afterwards, a frown on his lips. “You do know how to punch, sensei,” he groans.

”Okay, I’m a bit impressed,” Kakashi-sensei admits. He gives Bush Naruto a look over. “Then you’re the real one, I assume? I don’t really understand what you’re trying to do.”

Bush Naruto grins. “Eh, who says I do? That’s what makes this all exciting, ya know?”

The original Naruto spots a bell over by where his clone is, eyes widening in disbelief before making a connection that the bell must be a sort of deception. Not wanting his clone to get dispelled, but hoping their sensei believes he is out of their way, Naruto hopes his clone sees the bell and figures out what he would do. Bush Naruto glances at the ground, glances briefly to where Naruto is hiding before nodding to himself as he makes a sound of ‘aha!’ and heading to grab the bell. Instantly, Bush Naruto is tied up by his feet and hung upside down.

”But still an idiot,” Kakashi-sensei sighs almost disappointedly. “A real ninja looks for deception. And does not immediately fall for obvious tricks.”

Naruto scowls at him, but he keeps himself hidden. Moving around elsewhere as to not give himself away. This time, however, he does not go after Kakashi-sensei. Instead choosing to see how his clone hangs in annoyance while the man gives him some sort of lecture Naruto will hear clearly when the clone is dispelled. And then, abruptly, he spots shuriken swirling through the air with its target focused on their sensei.

Kakashi-sensei does not move, and Naruto turns to find Sasuke. He scratches his head confusingly and hopes the Uchiha moves from his place. He does not. Naruto rolls his eyes and glances back at the scene just in time to see that their sensei takes the hit and blood comes out! Though, once the man reaches the ground, a log is revealed and he isn’t the least surprised. Naruto had said earlier that they wouldn’t be able to beat him. He glances back at Sasuke and is glad to see that he has moved from his spot. Naruto looks to see another figure moving once the Uchiha had. He facepalms internally— seems like Sakura had chosen to trail behind the only Uchiha left.

Naruto spots Kakashi-sensei reading his book and then—

a scream.

He frowns at the sound knowing the scream can only belong to Sakura. Naruto quickly heads toward her destination. He gets there in time to see Kakashi-sensei flee from the top of the tree and so he gets down to where Sakura lays. Naruto gently shakes her shoulders, urging her to wake up. Her eyes open slowly with a whisper, “Sasuke…”

Naruto rolls his eyes. “How insulting,” he mutters under his breath. “C’mon, Sakura. I have a plan. Sort of.”

Sakura sits up and glares at him. “A plan? As if. You failed big time!”

”I needed time to see what the test was about,” Naruto defends himself, crossing his arms. “I think it has to do with teamwork, or something around that. It’s why he’s trying so hard to get us angry or separate us, ya know?”

”Don’t be ridiculous,” Sakura huffs. “You wouldn’t figure that out.”

Naruto pinches the bridge of his nose. “Do you wanna help Sasuke or not? Make him fail?”

Sakura instantly stiffens up and defeatedly says, “Alright. I’ll play.”

”Good, because time’s almost over,” Naruto responds. He instantly runs to where his clone lies and unties him with a kunei. His clone lands perfectly and glances at the two.

”Boss,” Bush Naruto greets and simply ignores Sakura. “You figure it out yet?”

”You know how we work together?” Naruto questions him, already heading to find Sasuke. Bush Naruto nods his agreement and waits for the original to continue. “Think that’s how we can get those bells. I work as a diversion by heading him front on since that’s what I do best, Sakura grabs the bells as Sasuke also attacks but more—”

”Better than you!” Sakura exclaims.

”Shut up,” Bush Naruto hisses. “You wanna call sensei or what?”

Sakura blushes sheepishly and the original Naruto simply shakes his head, finger over his lips once he spots Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei up ahead. Naruto stops on his steps when Sasuke releases a fireball jutsu and then the man himself having disappeared. It’s not long before he erupts from underground— Naruto has to admit, their sensei certainly knows a lot of jutsus. Even if he is a pervert. Sakura almost shrieks upon seeing Sasuke having his whole body except his head underground. Luckily, Bush Naruto had placed his hand over her mouth.

Naruto quietly lands on the ground and heads in front of Sasuke. The Uchiha scowls at him, but considering he’s under, it doesn’t look very threatening.

”Dead last,” Sasuke scoffs.

”Earth head,” Naruto responds back easily. He shrugs at him. “You’re up to working together?”

”No,” the Uchiha scowls. “Get out.”

Bush Naruto groans when Sakura takes his hand out of her mouth and instantly goes toward the other two, heart eyes on her face.

”Sasuke’s right,” Sakura gushes.

Bush Naruto glares at her. “And if your Sasuke ever told you to jump off and die you’d do it too,” he snaps.

Naruto gives his clone an odd glance, noticing that this one seems a bit more angry. Interesting. His attention goes back to his teammates.

”Look, you’re good,” Naruto confesses, and it kills him to do so. “You almost got the bell, didn’t you? So you and I attack him and Sakura grabs them. We gotta try our hardest and I say our hardest can be us working together.”

”Your hardest wouldn’t even contribute anything—”

”Then let’s make sensei think so! I’ll create more clones and attack head on, and you try a taijutsu move or even that fireball one, I don’t care. As long as we corner him in some way,” Naruto scowls determinedly. Sasuke thinks over his words before nodding tensely.

”Fine. But when we fail, I do it alone,” Sasuke agrees coldly. He eyes Sakura uncaringly. “Don’t be slow.”

*

Naruto spots Kakashi-sensei and runs head on, letting out his Multi-Shadow Clone jutsu to create ten clones at the same time and try and jump him. Their sensei turns toward them and lazily attacks, eye still on his book.

”Seems you got out of the trap,” he says nonchalantly. “I’m surprised you hadn’t gone for the lunch. But then again, that one in the trap must have been a clone, hmm?”

He effortlessly takes out every one of them leaving only one Naruto on front, using his speed to barely catch a hit on their sensei. Even if he dodged it, it would not matter since Sasuke bursts in, using his own moves next. Kakashi-sensei hums thoughtfully, now trying to block the two of them. Naruto attacks from on top, creating more clones. Sasuke from the opposite side where the bells do not lie. And once Sakura spots the bells open to take, she runs ahead to try and catch them. Just as her fingers reach the bells, the alarm clock goes off.

Her hand closes and she barely captures just the one.

Kakashi-sensei smiles down at them and announces, “Times up.”

They end up all sitting around Naruto, he who ends up the only one being tied up. The blond glances up at the sky in annoyance. Food sitting on Sakura and Sasuke’s lap and Naruto is always hungry, no doubt, but he can live. It just is a bit humiliating, being reminded of his past.

”I see Sakura grabbed one of the bells,” Kakashi-sensei notes, looking at the pink-haired girl with interest. And then back at all of them. “Attacking all at once… that was a good strategy, I’ll admit. A coincidence too, I bet. Or a chance to take advantage of the other?”

”Or compromising to work together,” Naruto offers tiredly.

Kakashi-sensei tilts his head at him, clearly interested. “Work together…? Is that right?” He looks at Sakura and Sasuke. Slowly, the two of them nod. “Huh. And you two decided to actually do that?”

The question obviously aimed at Naruto and Sasuke. The blond boy shrugs, “I said I was gonna try my best, didn’t I? Even if that included working with that Earth Head.”

”And yet, only Sakura was able to get a bell,” Kakashi-sensei chuckles. “So it seems like—”

Naruto’s shoulder sag. At least he had tried—

“Sensei, wait!” Sakura exclaims, a frown on her lips. “I was only able to get the bell because of Sasuke and Naruto.”

”Hmm? That so?” Kakashi-sensei questions thoughtfully. “Are you saying that one of them deserves it then? Who? Sasuke, or Naruto?”

Sakura bites her lip, looking between the two boys. On one hand, she should give it to Sasuke her one and only love. He would see it as a declaration of her heart and immediately fall for her, claiming Sakura as his own while he goes on to become a shinobi. But… Naruto. She does not like him. But he was the one that convinced them to work together and maybe he isn’t so bad. He also got them food and she had not even eaten dinner last night but the food he made was surprisingly delicious.

She shakes her head and cries, “They both do! Just not me, I didn’t do anything.”

Her eruption clearly surprises the three of them and Sakura turns away ashamed. That is, until Naruto awkwardly clears his throat and voices:

”Well, without you none of us would have even gotten a bell,” he mentions quietly. Naruto grins at her. “So don’t feel bad about yourself. I mean, I took a while to come out, ya know?”

Kakashi-sensei looks at him curiously. “Did you really only come out at the end?” He has to ask, because Naruto’s movement at the end were actually far better than earlier. His speed and moves making a high improvement.

”Yup! I was just trying to figure out the test, but it took more time than I anticipated,” Naruto laughs awkwardly, rubbing his neck. “I’m no Shikamaru or Mikaze-sensei.”

Their sensei tilts his head, recognize once more that he does not know the second name spoken out loud. Though, he returns his attention back at his main focus.

”So you figured it out?” He questions suspiciously.

”Teamwork!” Naruto exclaims. “I think. It’s not like we can actually beat you. So I had to look underneath the underneath.”

Kakashi-sensei stares at the blond in disbelief. “Well… yes,” he says slowly. “That’s correct, Naruto. But, I’m afraid since only one of you—”

”If they can’t pass then I shouldn’t either,” Sakura interrupts, a fierce look on her face and it’s such a surprising expression. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone and Sasuke and Naruto both were involved equally so I can’t give it to just one of them.”

Their sensei hums in thought. “Interesting. I’ll let the three of you continue after lunch. But do not feed Naruto. While your clones are impressive, you only took me seriously at the end.”

Naruto scowls at him. “The clones were still me, dattebayo!”

Kakashi-sensei simply waves and moves out. Slowly, when their sensei was out of view, Sakura and Sasuke begin to eat. They weren’t that hungry since Naruto brought them food, but it was lunchtime. Still… Sasuke himself couldn’t help but feel a slight guilt upon even eating when the one that made food earlier hasn’t. And he ate barely just a few hours ago but Naruto must have eaten since before five!

Although he turns away, Sasuke brings the food up to Naruto. “Here,” he grunts.

Sakura gasps beside him. “But Sasuke— you’ll get in trouble,” she exclaims unsurely.

”He fed us earlier,” Sasuke snaps at her. “Like he said. It’s better to fight with a stomach that’s full instead of empty.”

The pink-haired girl blushes. “You’re right,” she says softly. She also raises up the food, and Naruto smiles at the pair of them.

”Thank you,” he tells them both. “We’ll get him next time!”

Abruptly, Kakashi-sensei appears in a shunshin and in front of them all. “You broke the rules! Feeding him despite ignoring my orders, hmm? YOU— PASS!”

Sakura and Naruto gape at him in confusion. “What?”

”You are the first squad that ever succeeded,” Kakashi-sensei hums happily. “Apart from figuring out the actual answer, I wanted to test all of you to see if you truly understood. Every other group I tested failed by listening to my orders and discarding their teammates.”

Naruto furrows his brows at looks at him curiously, unaware that the next words that will be said will be engraved into his heart forever.

”In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum. That’s true,” Kakashi-sensei begins. He stares at each one of them with a serious look. “But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.”

The blond ninja smiles and nods. “I guess you’re kind of cool.”

“On every mission, your life is on the line,” Kakashi continues. He walks toward the stone that lies in front of them. “Did you look at this stone, the names engraved on it? They are all ninja who are honored as heroes on our village. A special kind of hero. They are all KIA. It is a memorial stone. The names of my closest friends are engraved here. From now on, you’re under my squad and I hope we don’t see any of our here, alright?”

”Cha!” Sakura exclaims happily.

”Tomorrow, we begin our first mission,” Kakashi-sensei eye smiles. “Now let’s go home.”

Sasuke and Sakura begin to go their own way leaving Naruto tied up. He gapes at them openly and yells at them, but he goes ignored. The young blond scoffs to himself.

”So much for teammates,” he mutters to himself. Naruto glances up as he spots a presence beside him, not surprised to see that it was his official sensei now.

”Eh, slow steps,” Kakashi-sensei grins down at him. He crouches down and unties the boy, making sure there aren’t any unnecessary bruises. Naruto knows he won’t have any since he heals fast either way. He watches as his sensei brings up another lunch, one that isn’t open unlike the other two. “Here’s yours,” he says not unkindly.

Naruto takes it slowly and eye smiles back at his teacher. “Thanks, sensei,” he appreciates. Then, he gives him a curious look. “Did ya eat yours?”

Kakashi-sensei takes out the same scroll Naruto gave him. “Not yet. I thought we could eat it together,” he hums. “I apologize for earlier. I never intended to make any of you starve… well, I never intended to not leave any of you lunch.”

”Hehe, it’s alright,” Naruto grins, forgiving the man easily. He happily opens up his box and stuffs the food inside his mouth. “It’s good! Certainly no Ichiraku Ramen, but good.”

Kakashi-sensei eye smiles back at him. Naruto takes note on how the food on his own bento box long since vanished and not once did he see him take off his mask.

”Cool,” he mutters, eyes brightening. Naruto cannot wait to tell Mikaze-sensei about him! Even though he is his former student either way. “Hey, sensei?”

”Mmh?”

”D’ya think you can supervise a jutsu I’m learning?” Naruto questions embarrassingly. He scratches his whiskered cheek. “The old man said I can’t learn it without your help, ya know?”

Kakashi-sensei raises an eyebrow. “Oh? And what jutsu are you referring to?”

Naruto quickly stands up and excitedly says, “Well one of them’s the Clone Great Explosion jutsu and— er, unfortunately, I think I’m g’nna have more trouble now that I know I feel the pain they get… and I can’t do a normal clone either, so that’s my best bet.”

His sensei seems to pale a bit, from what Naruto can see and he clears his throat unsurely. “It’ll be dangerous,” Kakashi-sensei warns, because if the Third has already given permission except that he needs to be there, then the least he can do is warn him. Though, truth be told, he didn’t exactly want to see even a clone of Naruto (who looks just like his sensei and has Kushina’s spirit within him) explode in front of him.

”But you will?” Naruto wonders hopefully.

”Of course,” Kakashi-sensei sighs. He runs a hand over his hair. “If I didn’t already have gray hair, I just know Naruto would have made me gone that color,” he mutters under his breath.

”Huh? You say something?” Naruto tilts his head at him confusingly. But such words seems to make the older man eye smile in deep thought. And though the mask covers his mouth, Naruto is sure there is an actual smile hidden. He shudders to himself, somehow finding regret but unsure why.

He yelps in surprise at the sudden ruffle of his blond hair from his sensei. Kakashi-sensei simply says, “It’s decided.”

And does not elaborate.

Naruto gives him a grimaced smile and silently thinks, Are all my senseis destined to be just a bit weird? Not even Iruka-sensei is safe from that though definitely the most normal.