Naruto 1. Prolouge

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does. But I do own my OCs.

October 10th many years ago…

Outskirts of Konoha

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage, stood in front of a clearing. This was the location where the rampage of the Kyubi, a creature of enormous amounts of charka and power, ended. Many lives, both shinobi and civilians alike, were lost in the chaos of the Kyubi attack.

The old walked forward towards a small alter within the clearing and picked up the infant that was in the middle of it. The infant was fast asleep and oblivious to the events that just transpired.

Hiruzen held the infant carefully in his arms and looked at him with somber eyes. "I'm sorry this has happened to you Naruto. You don't deserve any of this, especially on the day of your birth" Hiruzen said to the baby Naruto.

Hiruzen then set his gaze upon the body of the Yondaime Hokage and his wife, which were being attended by some shinobi. They gave their lives to seal the Kyubi and prevent any more death. '_Why did it have to be this way?'_ Thought Hiruzen.

O

Hokage's Office

Hiruzen just came back from a meeting among the shinobi and council. He relayed the death of the Yondaime and sealing of the Kyubi. It was a serious issue for loosing a Hokage. So he took up the mantle of Hokage once again due to the death of the Yondaime. There needed to be a leader in charge that people would respect and most importantly, protect the village. Especially with the events that just occurred, here needed to be a face to represent the village to show the other hidden villages that Konoha was still functional and strong.

Hiruzen looked down at the sleeping Naruto within his arms. "I'm sorry Naruto", said Hiruzen, "but due to your circumstances I have to put you in the orphanage" During the meeting Hiruzen was presented with the issue of Naruto. Many were outraged at even hearing about the boy. Many wanted to kill Naruto and few were against it. After calming down those at the meeting, somewhat, he had to create a law to protect Naruto. He also refused the idea of adoption. He couldn't leave the care of Naruto to any one person or group because it could cause chaos. If one group became too powerful because of Naruto there would be bloodshed.

*Knock*

Hiruzen looked up from the baby in his hands and towards the door. "Come in" he said in a tired voice.

An Anbu with a hawk mask walked in with a bundle in his hands. "I have the boy, sir" said Hawk.

"Thank you, Hawk. Where was he?" asked Hiruzen.

"He was in taichou's house" Hawk replied.

Hiruzen nodded and motioned for Hawk to follow. The Hokage and Hawk began to make their way to the orphanage each with a baby in hand.

"These boys have lost both their parents in one night, they will have a painful path ahead of them" stated the Hokage.

"Yes, but if they are anything like their parents, they will be extraordinary shinobi one day" Hawk said hopefully.

The old Hokage chuckled. "Yes, believe so too"

The two men reached the door of the door of the orphanage and both looked at each other. Hiruzen sighed and knocked on the door.

*Knock*


	2. The Early Years

**Disclaimer**: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does. But I do own my own OCs.

5 Years Later

A young boy sits on a park bench looking at the kids playing together. 'Why don't they wanna play with me?' the young boy thought sadly. The young boy gets up and makes his way back home. If he were late he would get in trouble.

This young boy was the one and only Uzumaki Naruto. He has spikey sun kissed blond hair that seemed to reach out in all directions. He had cerulean eyes that seemed to reel in anyone who looked at them. But the most unique feature where the whisker marks that adorned each cheek. He had three on each cheek that gave him a more animalistic look.

As he made his way back to the orphanage, Naruto was met with looks and whispers from the people around him. This has been happening as far as he can remember. Naruto didn't know why he was treated that way but he knew it made him feel bad. They were the people who wouldn't let him near their stores, children, or themselves, and they were basically everyone.

As Naruto approached the orphanage he heard crying. He turned to see a young girl around his age on the ground crying with a cut on her knee. A woman ran up to her and said, "Honey I told you to not run off. Its okay, let get this patched up and we'll get some ice cream before we go home. Just don't tell your father". The young girl sniffled and nodded her head with a small smile. The mom and daughter walked off holding hands.

A mother. A parent. Something Naruto always longed for. To feel a parents warm embrace, to be comforted when your injured or sad, to receive home cooked meals made out of love, and most of all to be part of a family.

Naruto eyes started to water as he made the rest of his way back to the orphanage. The thought of a family hit something in young Naruto. He couldn't contain the emotions the swelled within from watching the mother and daughter. When he made his way back to the entrance of the orphanage he wiped off his tears. He didn't want the others to have more reasons to make fun of him.

Naruto made his way to his room while ignoring the looks from the other orphans. They always stayed away from him and made fun of him. They were just like everybody else. When Naruto reached his room he sighed in relief. This was the one of the only place he felt comfortable.

Naruto set his sight on the bundle of blankets across of the room and smiled. The bundles of blankets shuffled around revealing a boy Naruto's age stitting up and yawning. He had semi-spikey raven black hair with a small patch of red on the back of his head, eyes so dark brown one might mistake it for black, and canines similar to a Inuzuka. This was Uzumaki Masashi, the boy that arrived at the orphanage with Naruto 5 years ago. They were told they weren't related and only had the same last name.

"Had a nice nap?" asked the amused Naruto.

"Yup. What time is it anyway?" asked the still groggy Masashi.

Naruto chuckled. "Its 5 in the afternoon. You sure like to sleep, huh?"

"Well what do you expect?" replied Masashi getting up and stretching, "There's nothing to do here anyways. Plus sleep is nice. So how was your walk?"

Naruto and Masashi felt close to each other like brothers. But, they didn't do everything and share everything together. So, it was understandable tat they didn't know what each other was doing every moment. They tended to do their own things and bond over chatting.

"It was nice I guess. The other kids didn't want to play with me again?" replied Naruto.

"Well, their just butts I they don't know how fun you are!" declared Masahi with a smile.

"Thanks Masashi"

"Ehem"

Both boys turned to the doorway to see the matron of the orphanage. She was in her late thirties to early forties. She was probably the nicest person to both of them. She never raised her voice at them. She gave them the same amount of food as everyone else. But, she never really talked to the at all.

"Masashi could you come with me for a moment?" she asked.

"Um…sure." Masashi said as he turned to Naruto. "See you later okay Naruto?"

"Yeah, okay" said Naruto,"I'll be here when you come back"

One Month Later

Masashi entered the room he shared with Naruto. He walked to over to were he slept and collapsed. His appearance had changed in the last month. He looked paler than before and his eyes looked a little lifeless.

Naruto noticed Masahi enter and looked at him worriedly. Masahi had been looking progressively worse after the matron of the orphanage talked to him last month. Naruto didn't know what was going on but he was worried it would end badly for Masashi in the end. "Are you okay Masashi?" he asked.

"I'm fine Naruto" he said with a weak smile as he laid down on his blankets. "I just need a little rest that's all"

"No!" Naruto said with a louder voice, "You've been looking bad lately. Tell me what happened. I don't like seeing you like this"

"There's nothing wrong Naruto" Masashi tried to say convincingly. "I'm just been helping clean up the orphanage and I'm a little tired"

Naruto could tell he was lying but he didn't want to push it. He knew that Masashi would tell him eventually. He just wished that Masashi trusted him enough to tell him now.

"Brats!"

Naruto and Masashi both looked up in surprise. It was the matron of the orphanage and for as long as they could remember; she never talked like that, or shouted for that mater, at them. She had a snarl on her face and a glare fixed on the both of them.

"Come with me now!" she said harshly. "And don't say anything". She lead them to the front door and said, "Get out!"

Masashi looked at her with wide eyes. "But you said…" he started but was quickly interrupted by a slap to the face. Masashi's eyed filled with tears and confusion.

"Shut up you!" she said harshly towards Masashi. "You two little demons have been nothing but trouble for me! You two are the reason we don't have enough money or that any of the others are being adopted! I can't believe I was able to stand you two this long, but I had to for the Hokage. But I have had it. I can't do it anymore! If he cares about you two demons he'll take care of you two himself. Get out of here before I kill you two!"

Masashi quickly grabbed Naruto's hand and quickly ran. They ran for minutes until they stopped in an alleyway of one of the poorer districts of Konoha. Both boys' eyes were full of tears. Naruto looked at Masashi and cried, "Why did she kick us out? Did we do something wrong?"

"I don't know" Masashi said trying to wipe the tears from his eyes. "But we'll be fine if we just stick together, okay?"

"Okay"

4 Days Later

It's been a few days since Naruto and Masashi had been kicked out of the orphanage. They've been surviving off food from the garbage and water from the fountain in the park because no one would give them food in addition to being chased away. At nights they would sleep in alleyways, away from busy streets, in anything that looked comfortable and warm, from cardboard boxes, to newspapers, to crates, and dumpsters.

They were currently digging through a trashcan behind a restaurant. Masashi and Naruto were grabbing anything they saw as edible and putting it on the newspaper between them. "Okay I think that's good for now Naruto" Masahi said.

"You sure? Shouldn't we save up more for later?" Naruto replied.

"Nah. We have enough. Plus we've been doing this for an hour. We need a rest anyway," Masashi said reassuringly.

They wrapped up the food on the newspaper and made their way towards the Hokage monument. They found the top to be isolated and that it gave a great view of Konoha. They found the place on their second day away from the orphanage and decided to come here to eat.

"I'm still hungry," complained Naruto.

"I know but that's all we got," replied Masashi, "We'll get more later"

"Excuse me boys"

Both boys turned to see an old man in a red and white robe with a pointy had with squiggles on it. He had gray hair, freckles, and a goatee. He was smoking from a pipe.

Masashi jumped up and stood in front of Naruto defensively. "Who are you?" asked Masashi warily.

"You need not fear little ones" said Hiruzen said calmly. "My name is Hiruzen Sarutobi and I am the Hokage"

Both boys' eyes widened at the information, especially Naruto. "Wow that mean you're like the most powerful ninja in the whole village!" Naruto said excitedly. "And you can do awesome tricks and fly!"

"Haha…I can't fly but I believe I am pretty powerful" the Hokage said amused. "Could you tell me why you two aren't at the orphanage?"

"We were kicked out" said Masashi "and we don't wanna go back"

Hiruzen was shocked. He saw the two heading up the Hokage monument and decided to follow them. He was surprised to learned they were kicked out and that they didn't want to come back. And now he was wondering what he should do.

"I'm not hear to take you back" Hiruzen said reassuringly. "You two look hungry. How about I treat you to some food"

"Yay, really! Yes were gonna get food!" Naruto said with some drool on his chin.

"Sure" Masashi said happily.

"Okay then follow me Naruto,Masashi" said Hiruzen as he made is way to the stairs. The boys followed the Hokage as they made their way down to the streets on Konoha.

"So Jiji, how do you know our names?" Masashi asked carefully.

"Well I'm the Hokage, Masashi. Its my job to know the people I protect" Hiruzen replied.

After a few minutes of walking the trio stopped in front of a small building. It was a bar-like restaurant with a lantern on the side with a delectable aroma coming from it. The aroma was to good it made Naruto and Masashi's stomach growl. The old Hokage laughed. "I guess you were more hungry than I thought?" he said amused.

"Hehe…yeah we haven't had anything good and warm for a few day" said Naruto. "So, what's this place anyway Jiji?"

"This young Naruto is the Ichiraku Ramen stand. This is one of the best and friendliest ramen stands in the Land of Fire, in my opinion," replied the Hokage. "Ah… I see you don't know what ramen is from the confused looks on your faces. Well we just have to change that. Let's go in and order something"

They each hopped on to a stool with the Hokage sitting between the two 5 year-olds. After a few seconds, a guy in his mid-thirties wearing an apron came out. "Ah…Hokage-sama how are you?"

"I'm doing good Teuchi, just stopped by for some food"

Teuchi nodded and spotted the two boys that flanked the Hokage. "So, who are these two young boys?"

"Oh, this here is Naruto" he said motioning to his right, "and this here is Masahi"

motioning to his left.

"Well, its nice to meet you two. So, what would you guys like?" asked Teuchi.

"Um..I don't know what good" said Naruto.

"Me either" said Masashi. "How about you just bring us something you thing we'll like Teuchi-san?"

"Okay" he said with a laugh "but call me Oji-san. I'm not that old yet"

"Haha…I don't think that helps your case Teuchi" said Hiruzen. Which got him an irritated look from Teuchi as he headed to the back to make their meal.

Hiruzen looked at the boys and asked "So boys, how does having your own place to stay sound?"

"Really?' asked Naruto excitedly. "Cool, we get our own place! Did you hear that Masashi?"

"Yeah! We get a place to ourselves. We're grown-ups now!" Masashi replied.

"Yes, boys you'll have your own place. I'll have the places ready after we're finished here" _'They're really excited for this. I guess they weren't treated the way I thought they were. I'm really sorry boys I didn't think it would be this bad.' _

Hiruzen was ripped from his thoughts when a girl holding a tray of ramen came in from the back. She had long brown hair and black eyes and looked to be around 9 or 10 years old.

"Hello Ayame-chan how have you been?" the old Hokage asked as she placed the bowls in front of them.

"Hello, Hokage-sama" she replied, "I've been well just keeping my father out of trouble"

"Hey!" came Teuchi's voice from the back. Ayame giggled. Then she spotted the two 5 year-olds.

Hiruzen noticed the curious look on Ayame's face and decided to explain. "Ayame-chan this here is Naruto-kun and Masashi-kun" he said motioning to the two, "and boys this is Ayame-chan, Teuchi's daughter"

"Hi" said Naruto enthusiastically.

"Hello" Masashi said with a smile.

"Awww, you two are adorable!" she said leaning over the counter and pinching Masashi's cheeks.

"Jiji helf wee!" Masashi said as he flayed his hands about. Hiruzen just looked on in amusement while Naruto just snickered.

Ayame let go of Masashi's cheeks. "Uhh…sorry I got a little carried away" she said sheepishly "you two are just too cute!"

"That's okay" Masashi replied rubbing his cheeks "just please don't do it again"

"Okay. So just enjoy your meal," she said before she headed back to the back.

The trio began to dig into their bowls of ramen. As soon as it hit their mouths it captured the love of their taste buds.

"This is amazing" Naruto shouted with a mouth full of noddles. Masashi just nodded and said "yeah"

As the two swallowed their way through their bowls, the old Hokage got a bad feeling in is stomach and it wasn't the food. He had a feeling that his wallet would weigh a lot less after this meal. He reluctantly sighed and decided there was nothing he could do about it.

oOo

A pile of bowls later

"Okay you two I thinks that's enough" Hiruzen said. "It'd getting late and don't you want to see your guys' places?" Masashi had stopped at three bowls but Naruto was on his six and the Hokage was beginning to regret taking them for ramen.

This got their attention. Masashi instantly got up and started pulling on the Hokage's sleeves toward the entrance. Naruto quickly finished his bowl and stood up. With that they were ready to go.

"Good night Teuchi, Ayame-chan" Hiruzen said as they left.

"Bye Ayame-nee!" Masashi shouted.

"Bye-bye" Naruto shouted while waving.

"Bye boys. Make sure you come again, you two will make me rich" Teuchi said with a smile.

"Dad!" Ayame said hitting her dad. "Sorry about that. Bye Naruto-kun. Bye Masashi-kun. Come again"

Hiruzen, Naruto, and Masashi made there way to an apartment. It wasn't an amazing building. It looked a little run down but it was functional. "I'm sorry boys, this is the best place I could find for you two" Hiruzen said as the made their way up a flight of stairs.

The three stopped at the top floor in front of two apartments.

"These are your apartments," said Hiruzen. "It has all the necessities you need"

"You mean we don't get to stay together," asked Masashi.

"I believe it would be better to have your own place especially when you get older. You can stay in each others places but you'll own your own place nevertheless" explained Hiruzen.

"Okay I guess" replied Masashi "but were staying in one apartment tonight. Right Naruto?"

"Right!" Naruto said nodding his head.

"Alright boys" said Hiruzen. "I just want to let you two know that you'll get monthly allowances, money, for food, clothes, and other necessities." Hurizen looked at the boys to see if they understood. "Okay you boys should go in now its getting cold. So good night"

"Thank you Jiji! Good night" Naruto said happily. Masashi also said "good night" and they both headed in to start their new lives.

oOo

Three Years Later

Naruto and Masashi were walking back to their apartments after dinner at Ichiraku's. The past three years have been rocky but they survived. They had a place to live, a place to eat, and each other to support one another. They also got into some hobbies. Masashi got into drawing and Naruto into pranking.

Naruto and Masashi would both come up the pranks, and Naruto would execute them. Though, Naruto was the one being chased most of the time while Masashi laughed from a distance. Though Masashi would also do his own pranks from time to time. He would paint exaggerated and embarrassing chibi version of shop owners and people who were mean to them. But for the Ichiraku Ramen stand he did do a friendly chibi version of both Teuchi and Ayame on the side of their stand. It seemed to also boost their customers much to Teuchi's delight.

"You kinda went overboard on the prank with the Hyugas today" said Masashi as they turned a corner. Naruto executed their plans to detonate paint bombs within the Hyuga compound, but Masashi thinks he went to far by making the blasts too big. The whole compound was practically covered in orange and blue.

"Psssh…It was hilarious. Did you see the faces on them?" laughed Naruto while putting his hands behind his head.

"Uh-uh…but you had to runaway from the really angry ones for almost an hour" Masashi deadpanned.

"Yeah yeah yea…" Naruto stopped talking.

"What's the matter Naru..." Masashi stopped and understood why Naruto stopped talking when he saw what was in front of them. There was a large group of people in front of them and they looked angry and drunk. Masashi knew what was happening, they were going to be attacked. Over the past few years the boys have been beat a good amount of times by angry drunk mobs. Those beatings would leave them in the hospital most of the time but they healed in a few days. If they were lucky, sometimes they would be able to escape the mobs.

"Run!" Masashi yelled as he grabbed Naruto's hand and headed down an alleyway on their left.

"Come back here demon! Your gonna pay!" one man shouted as the mob proceeded to chase them.

Masashi and Naruto were able to out run them for a few minutes but they knew they were getting tired and that the mob will catch up to them soon. This was nothing like when people chased them for their pranks. They were chased them because they were angry but they wouldn't result with violence, just yelling at them, calling them demons and such, and the occasional bottle, shoe, or other small object thrown at them.

Masashi and Naruto stopped in an alleyway with a dead end. Naruto turned to Masashi and asked worriedly, "What do we do?!"

Masashi looked around and spotted a dumpster. He grabbed Naruto and said, "Get in".

"What about you?" Naruto asked as he got in.

"Just get in! I need to do something first" Masashi said. "I'll be fine"

But Naruto knew he was lying. He could tell from the look on Masashi's face that he knew something bad was going to happen and that he was trying to protect him. Masashi had always been an older brother-type figure. Even if they didn't do everything together, Masashi still gave him advice, talked and comforted him when needed, ate with him at least twice a day, and protected him from trouble. Just like he was about to do now.

"No matter what you hear, you stay here and don't make any noise or large movements. Wait until all the noise dies down and wait an hour before you run home" Masashi commanded as he closed the lid. Masashi threw few cardboard boxes on top of the dumpster. Masashi turned towards the opening of the alleyway and waited. It took a minute until someone found him.

"They're over here!" the man yelled as the rest of the mob rallied to his location. Most of them were civilians but a handful were actually shinobi. They came armed with a variety of things. From knives, broken bottles (probably the ones they got drunk from), planks of wood, and kunai. Masashi had to admit this was probably the scariest mob they he and Naruto have encountered.

As the mob enclosed in on him a tall bald man stepped forward and grabbed Masashi by his shirt. "Where's the your demon master you piece of shit!" he yelled. Masashi looked at him in fear but said nothing. "So that's it, protecting a demon from your own kind. You sicken me. Nail him up!" he yelled towards the mob.

Why would adults want to hurt children? Masashi didn't know why. Masashi never understood what the mobs said when they beat them up. It was all confusing things about "demons" and "murder". But what he did know was that they were in emotional pain, he could tell by the look in their eyes, and they were taking out their anger, sadness, and grief on them. And Masashi was willing to let them do that now if it meant easing their pain and most importantly, protecting Naruto.

The man holding him punched Masashi in the face and let him fall to the floor. Two other men came up to him and started beating him. After a few minutes of fun the two men dragged him towards the wall at the end of the alley. "Before we nail him up, lets leave a message" one of the men said to the other.

"You're right this brat should know that he's no better than the demon he serves" the other man laughed. They kicked Masashi to the ground faced down and ripped off his shirt. The men proceeded to cut his back multiple times. They finished with carving the kanji for "monster" through his skin at the back of his upper right-hand shoulder. All the while, the rest of the mob laughed and threw insults at him.

The two men lifted Masashi up and pushed him up against the wall. They pressed him against the wall so hard that his backside stung from the pressure of the wall against his wounds. They men proceeded to stretch out his arms and legs, like a starfish, and stick kunai through his hands and feet so he was pinned up on the wall. The bald man stepped forward and said, "This is your last chance, just tell us where your demon friend is and we wont hurt you so bad". Masashi just looked at him through half-lidded eyes. "Have it your way. We tried to be nice and civil but you refused" he said. He turned to the mob behind him and said, "He's all yours".

For the next half-hour both men and women proceeded to take their frustrations out on the boy. They beat him, stabbed him, cut him, spat on him, burned him, and yelled their anger at him. They called him monster, traitor to his own kind, brat, demon servant, and blamed his "master" for the death of their love ones. Through out the cried of pain from the torture they ignored the fact that he was still a child. Finally, an old woman came up to Masashi and said "this is for my daughter" as she lifted a knife above her head.

Masashi closed his eyes as the knife came closer to his face. He waited a few seconds and still nothing. He slowly opened his eyes to see purple before he passed out.

Before the old woman could kill Masashi a kunai stuck her heart and she fell lifeless to the floor. Five Anbu members dropped down from above. At the head of them, who stood in front of Masashi's pinned up form, was an Anbu with a neko mask and long purple hair. She spoke and said, "What do you think you're doing hurting a poor, defenses child"

"We were exacting justice!" one man yelled while the rest of the mob yelled in agreement.

The neko Anbu sighed and turned towards her fellow Anbu. "Rally them up and put them in cells" she commanded. The other Anbus nodded and began detaining the mob, though most of the mob tried fleeing. The neko Anbu turned around towards Masashi. She could tell he was unconscious. "What have they done to you?" she asked. She carefully pried the kunai out of his hands and feet and caught him before he could fall to the ground. She jumped off towards the hospital carrying Masashi.

oOo

Inside the Dumpster

Naruto was shaking in fear. He could hear all the commotion outside and he hope Masashi would be fine. After what seemed like days, the noised stopped. Naruto waited for an hour like Masashi instructed him and got out of the dumpster. When he got out Naruto could see blood everywhere and smell something nauseating, like a burnt smell.

Naruto ran as fast as he could back to his apartment with tars in his eyes. When he got there, there was a man in a hawk mask standing in front of his door. Naruto stopped in fear. "Uzumaki-san?" the Anbu asked. Naruto just nodded his head.

"I'm work for the Hokage. He told me to watch over you" he began. "Your friend is in the hospital but he will survive. So go inside and sleep, you need some rest"

Naruto just nodded and went in his apartment. He went to his room and proceeded to cry himself to sleep.

oOo

Hospital 4 Days Later

Masashi slowly opened his eyes and was met with blinding white light. When his vision adjusted he realized he was in the hospital. Masashi hated hospitals. Most of the people here treated him and Naruto horribly, the food was horrible, they always left the lights on in their room, and they ignored the pain they were in. It was lucky that Naruto and him healed pretty quickly so they didn't have to stay there for extended periods of time.

"I see you're awake" said a voice. He turned to face a purple haired woman wearing a neko mask.

"Who are you?" asked Masashi warily.

"I'm an Anbu who works for Hokage-sama. He asked me to take care of you" she replied. "Most of you injuries have healed but there are a few scars on your back"

"Okay" Masashi said. "Um…Neko-neechan, do you know where Naruto is?"

The neko Anbu giggled at the honorific Masashi gave her despite that it was their first meeting. "Well Masashi-kun he is fine and being watched by another Anbu, like myself, by orders of Hokage-sama."

Masashi sighed in relief. He was worried that Naruto didn't get away but knowing that he was safe he could relax. Masashi's thoughts were interrupted when his stomach growled. He guessed that he must be hungry because he must have been out for Kami knows how long.

The neko Anbu giggled again and asked "Are you hungry?"

"Yes" Naruto began with a blush on his cheeks, "but I don't want any of that icky food from the hospital!" he finished.

"You're lucky I just came back with my dinner," she said pulling out a bag. She took out the contents and put them on the table next to Masashi's bed. There was tskune, dango, gyoza, and some tempura vegtables.

Masashi's mouth started to water from all the food. He had never tried any of these because the most he and Naruto could afford was ramen. Even, the vegetables looked good, though he wasn't as picky with them as Naruto was. "Dig in," the neko Anbu said seeing the hunger in his eyes.

"Itadakimasu!" Masashi excitedly said before digging in. The neko Anbu was amused as they shared the food. Masashi could take in a lot but then again he was out for four days. But it was most funny when he tried to figure out how she ate with a mask on. One moment she had food and the next it was gone and he didn't even see her mask move at all.

After they finished eating, the neko Anbu asked, "Do you think you can walk Masashi-kun because the Hokage wants to see you when you're feeling better."

"Hai, Neko-neechan. Let's go see Jiji!" Masashi replied with a smile. After Naruto was ready, he grabbed the neko Anbu's hand and they set off towards the Hokage's office. The neko Anbu thought it was really cute that Masashi grabbed her hand like a child with their parent or older sibling.

oOo

Hokage's Office

Hurizen was at his desk thinking how things could have gotten so bad. He never thought the people of Konoha would result to what he saw four days ago. Hurting a child to that degree, it churned his stomach. _'I really have failed you guys haven't I?'_

*Knock*

Hiruzen was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the knock. "Come in" he said. He saw Neko with Masashi holding her hand enter the room. "Ah Neko. Masashi-kun, I'm glad you're feeling better."

"Hokage-sama" Neko replied.

"Hi Jiji! Hows it going?" Masashi asked with a smile.

Hiruzen couldn't believe it, he was still be smiling after all he went through. "I'm good Masashi-kun" he began. "But I'm sorry I haven't done much for you and Naruto lately" he said remorsefully.

Masashi's smile fell. "It's okay Jiji. You already have done so much for both of us. We don't want to bother you with things that can take you away from your work"

Hiruzen slightly frowned. How could they think it would be a bother to him if they asked for help? Hiruzen decided to drop it for now. He knew it would be hard to change their minds. "Okay Masashi" he sighed. "But lets take care of some business"

*Knock*

"Enter" Hiruzen said.

Two Anbu entered with a man in shackles in front of them. It was the bald man that led the mob. Masashi quickly hid behind Neko in fear and tightly held on to her pants. Neko looked down at Masashi worriedly and rubbed his head in comfort.

"Nakamura Yoshi" Hiruzen began "You have been charged with braking my law about eight years ago, torture of a minor, and leading a mob. Give me one reason why I shouldn't have you executed?"

The man, now revealed as Yoshi, snarled. "That little brat serves a demon! Both him and the demon should be killed! How cou…" Yoshi stopped when he felt the killing intent focused on him.

Hiruzen stood from his chair, directing his killing intent at the man in front of him. He couldn't listen to his pathetic reasonings. Plus, Masashi started to silently cry. Masashi may seem to be pretty happy and strong child but Hiruzen knew that he put on that mask for Naruto, just like Naruto puts up his own mask to seem happy.

"Well I find you reasonings pathetic. So, I'll have Masashi-kun here decide your fate" Hiruzen said turning to Masashi. Yoshi's eyes went wide in fear. He knew the demon servant would send him to his death.

"I don't want to do anything to them, Jiji. I just want them to stop hurting me and Naruto" Masashi said through tears. Yoshi was surprised; he surely believed he was going to die.

"Very well, Masashi-kun" Hiruzen said. Hiruzen turned to Yoshi and said, "Masashi-kun may not want to punish you, but you broke the laws, which are punishable by death, so you still need to be punished." Yoshi's fear returned as he looked at the Hokage. "You will spend five month in prison. You will also have to pay 50,000 ryo to young Masashi here for all the things you done to him. You may complain about having a family but you brought this upon yourself. Would you do what you did to this boy to your son if he interacted with Naruto? Think on that during your sentence." Yoshi was escorted out of the office with his head down.

After they left, Hiruzen turned to Masashi and said, "Its getting late Masashi-kun, you should head home and get some rest. Don't worry Neko here will be guarding you. Also, you and Naruto will be joining the academy in two weeks."

Masashi's face brightened and said, "Alright Jiji, good night."

"Good night, Masashi-kun"

oOo

Masashi's Apartment

Neko and Masashi arrived to Masashi's apartment. Neko was about to jump to another roof to watch the apartment from but something stopped her. She looked down and saw Masashi still holding on to her hands and looking at her with pleading eyes.

"Please don't leave me Neko-neechan. I'm afraid and I don't want to be alone," Masashi whispered.

"Okay, Masashi-kun. Lets go inside," said Neko. She followed Masashi to his room and watch as he threw off his clothes and changed into his pajamas. Neko couldn't help but snicker at his pajama cap. His pajama was plain with a big sleeping cap on his head. The cap was shaped like a round pillow on his head but it looked like it was eating his head with those two big eyes on the front. Masashi quickly pulled Neko towards his bed. He got tucked in and had her lay next to him on the bed. Neko carefully put an arm around him as he well asleep.

oOo

Two Month Later

Masashi and Naruto were walking from the academy. It's been more than a month since the two joined but it was fun. They met interesting people, though everyone, including the instructors, ignored them and gave them "the look". With that aside it was pretty exciting for them. They learned interesting things and were training to become shinobi.

"I'm heading to Ichiraku's, wanna come Masashi?" asked Naruto.

"Nah, I'm not that hungry" Masashi replied.

"Suit yourself" Naruto said as he dashed toward Ichiraku's.

Masahi sighed. _'He loves ramen too much. Sure its good but there are other food out there'_ he thought. Masashi stopped his thoughts when he saw a woman leaving a restaurant with what looked to be a shinobi. The thing that caught his attention was the purple hair it looked just like Neko-neechan. Masashi quickly ran up to them and said "Hello Neko-neechan!"

Neko turned around and surprised Masashi. She wasn't wearing her mask so he could see her face. She was pretty. She had brown eyes and ruby red lips. Neko herself was surprised when her Anbu code name was called when she was in civilian attire. She was surprised to see Masashi standing behind her.

"Wow, you're really pretty Neko-neechan," Masashi said with a smile.

"Thank you, Masashi-kun but you can't call me by my Anbu name when I'm not wearing my mask," she said quietly. "Call me by real name, it's Yūgao, okay?"

"Okay, Yūgao-neechan!"

"Quite the *cough* charmer" said the man next to Yūgao. The man had a bandana hitai-ate and looked a little sickly. He had short brown hair and black eyes.

"Are you Yūgao-neechan's boyfriend?" Masashi asked curiously.

The man just smiled while Yūgao just blushed from the question Masashi just asked. Yūgao just hesitated before saying, "Yes, Masashi he is my boyfriend. His name in Hayate."

"Hello Masashi, *cough* it's nice to meet you" Hayate said.

"You too Hayate-niichan!" said Masashi happily. "Are you gonna marry Yūgao-neechan?"

Hayate gave a small laugh while Yūgao's cheeks filled up with red once more. Yūgao was able to compose her self and said, "I think that a little too early for us Masashi-kun. So, how have you been?" trying to change the subject.

"I'm great! The academy is cool. I've been happy these past few weeks," he said, "but can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure you can Masashi-kun" Yūgao said reassuringly.

"Could you train me?" Masashi began, "I wanna become stronger to protect me and Naruto."

Yūgao was surprised. Masashi wanted to get stronger not because of power or to look cool but to protect his love ones. "Okay Masashi but I'll only teach you tree walking and water walking. The rest you learn at the academy until you graduate. Okay?"

"Hai!" he said while nodding his head vigorously.

"Okay. We'll start next week. So prepare yourself," Yūgao said.

"Hai!" Masashi said. He quickly ran home to train. He was on his way to being a great shinobi.


	3. Graduation

**Disclaimer:** I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does. But I do own my own OCs.

Five Years Later

"Get back here!"

"You wont get away with this you brat!"

The cause of this commotion was our blonde haired troublemaker, one Uzumaki Naruto.

Currently several people were chasing him for painting on the Hokage monument, but it was amazing he hadn't been caught. He had chunin ranked shinobi chasing him, plus he was wearing an orange jumpsuit with a pair of green goggles on his head. Kind of hard not to miss.

"You don't have what it takes to do what I did! Losers, you'll never catch me!" yelled Naruto as several shinobi chased after him. Naruto stopped at a fence and quickly his behind a tarp that camouflaged into the fence.

"Where did he go?" one shinobi yelled as he ran past. "I don't know, lets just find that troublemaker," another shinobi said.

"Ha ha suckers! You can't catch the great Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto said as he dropped the tarp.

"Who can't catch you?"

"Those losers…oh" Natuto replied before looking towards the voice. It was the ninja academy instructor, Iruka. "Oh, hey Iruka-sensei how's it going?" Naruto asked nervously.

"Your in so much trouble Naruto. You're supposed to be in class but here you are fooling around," Iruka scolded.

oOo

Ninja Academy

Masashi was sitting in front of the class drawing in his sketchpad while the other students messed around. He knew that Naruto was on one of his pranks again and that's why Iruka-sensei probably wasn't there. His thoughts were confirmed when Iruka came in dragging a tied-up Naruto squirming around.

"Quiet!" Iruka yelled while his head grew larger. Masashi never could understand how he did that, probably a justu. "Because of Naruto here," Iruka said while looking at Naruto, " we will be reviewing the henge"

The whole class started complaining and blaming Naruto. After Naruto was untied, everyone got in line and began showing Iruka a henge of himself.

Masashi slipped in next to Naruto. "Don't you think you should be trying to focus on the upcoming exams instead of doing pranks?" Masahi asked.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…I know but I have to have my fun you know that" Naruto replied. Masashi just chuckled nodded.

"Yeah I know just focus on the exams. We want to pass this year remember?" Masashi said.

"Okay, okay…I won't do any pranks until after the exams" Naruto said a little annoyed.

Masashi just nodded and waited for their turn.

After a few minutes it was Masashi's turn. '_Here goes nothing'_ Masashi thought before performing the jutsu. The result, a perfect look alike of Iruka. "Good job Masashi. You're up next Naruto"

'_Lets do this'_ Naruto thought with a smile. Naruto walked up and performed the justu but as he performed it a cloud of smoke cover the room. As the smoke receded it revealed a naked, female version of Naruto that's private parts were barely coved by wisps of steam.

This got a nosebleed from Iruka and a sigh from Masashi.

Iruka recovered and yelled "You moron! Stop wasting your time on these stupid jutsus!"

oOo

Hokage Monument

After class Naruto had to clean the mess he made on the Hokage monument as Iruka supervised him. Masashi decided to tag along and help a little.

"You don't leave here, Naruto, until ever drop of paint is gone" Iruka said from atop the monument. "You're lucky Masashi wants to help or you be out here all evening"

"Its not like there's anyone waiting for me at home" Naruto shouted back a little bitterly.

"Naruto…" Iruka said as he watched the duo below clean. "What now?" Naruto asked annoyed. "Well, I was thinking once you two are finished here I could take you out for some ramen"

"Oh yeah! You really know how to motivate Iruka-sensei!" Naruto shouted with glee while picking up the pace on cleaning while Masashi just chuckled at him.

oOo

Ichiraku Ramen Stand

"Well, thanks for the ramen Iruka-sensei. I'm gonna head home and get some shut eye" Masashi said after he finished his bowl of ramen.

"Already? You only had one bowl," said Iruka. Masashi nodded and said "Yeah. I guess I'm just tired and plus I like sleep"

"You and your sleep" Naruto said, "if you could hibernate you probably would"

"Ha ha…I actually would" Masashi said laughing as he started walking back to his apartment, leaving Naruto and Iruka alone.

"Naruto…why of all the places did you deface the Hokage monument? I mean, you do know who the Hokages are?" Iruka asked as Naruto downed his fourth bowl of ramen.

"Of course!" Naruto responded, "The Hokage is the strongest shinobi in the whole village and he protects everyone. It was the fourth Hokage who saved the village from the demon fox"

"Okay, then why!" asked confused.

"Because one day I'll be Lord Hokage and then everyone in the village will have to give some respect" Naruto said determinedly. "Uh…by the way…sensei, could I ask you a favor?"

"What, another bowl of ramen?"

"Could I try on your headband…pretty please?!" Naruto asked really excitedly.

"What? You mean this?" Iruka said pointing to his headband, "This is sign of adulthood and of joining the ranks of Konoha's shinobi. You have to wait 'till graduation to earn one of these"

"What a rip-off!" Naruto said crossing his arms.

"So that's why you took off your goggles?" Iruka said amused.

"I want that bowl of ramen you mentioned!"

"Ha ha…okay, okay"

oOo

Day of the Exams

*knock*knock*

"Masashi, wake up! You don't wanna be late today because of your sleeping. I'm going ahead, you better not be late!" yelled the excited voice of Naruto through Masashi's apartment door before running off to the academy.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm getting up" the drowsy teen replied as he got out of bed. He headed to his bathroom to get ready for the day. After brushing his teeth and taking a quick shower he went to his dresser to get ready. Masashi was dressed in grey cargo pants with a navy-blue t-shirt. Masashi also wore an unzipped grey hoodie, with a red spiral on the left sleeve. After putting on his pouches and sandals he headed out to the academy.

'_Awww…I forgot to eat'_ Masashi thought as he headed towards the academy. '_Errrr…I guess sleeping too much has its drawbacks. Do I have enough time to grab something from the market?_'

Masashi was torn from his thought when he bumped into someone. "I'm sorry I wasn't looking where I was going" Masashi said bowing towards the stranger. Once Masashi finished is apology he finally got a good look at who he bumped into. The stranger was a tall man. He had tan skin and brown eyes and spikey-ish black hair. He had a rugged look because of his beard and the cigarette he was smoking. He also wore a jonin vest along with a bandana at his waist with the kanji for 'fire'.

"That's alright Masashi" the man replied.

Masashi looked at the stranger warily. "How do you know my name?" he asked warily. He had no idea who this guy was so how did he know who he was?

"Ah, sorry I forgot to introduce myself," the man said seeing the reaction on Masashi's face, "My name is Sarutobi Asuma. My father told me stories about you"

"Your Jiji's son?" Masashi asked surprised. He knew that the Third Hokage had a son but he never met him before. The Third Hokage said he was working outside the village.

"Yes I am" Asuma replied. "I guess your headed to the academy for the exams, yes?"

"Hai Asuma-san"

"Just call me Asuma or nii-san," said Asuma.

"Okay, Asuma-nii" Masashi replied cheerfully. Then something caught Masashi's eyes. There were these two weird looking knives on the ground. Masashi picked them up. "Are these knives yours Asuma-nii?" he asked.

"Yes, they are. They must of fell out of my pocket when you bumped into me" Asuma replied. "They're called charkra blades and they're yours now"

"What?" Masashi asked surprised. "Why would you give them to me?"

"You're on your way to take your exams right? Let's just say it's a good luck gift. You should get going or you'll be late"

"Hai, Asuma-nii" Masashi said heading towards the academy.

oOo

Academy

"What took you so long?" Naruto asked as Masashi sat down next to him.

"I ran into Jiji's son and he gave me these" Masashi said taking out the chakra blades.

"Jiji's son?" Naruto asked. "What was he like?"

"He was nice. He was pretty cool too" Masashi replied.

"Why do you get something and I don't" Naruto complained.

"Well I guess sleeping in has its advantages" Masashi said sticking out his tongue.

"Well I don't need anything to be a great ninja" Naruto said crossing his arms.

"Okay, okay, okay Mr. Great Ninja. Iruka-sensei is coming lets talk after the exams"

Iruka walked in front of the class. "Okay everyone, for your final exam you must each create a bunshin. Wait here until your name is called and come into the next room"

'_Why did it have to be the bun_hin? That's my worst technique' Naruto worriedly thought.

'_Naruto and me can't do proper bunshin_' thought Masashi '_How are we gonna pass_'

Masashi's Turn

"Okay Masashi just do a bunshin and you pass" Iruka said. Masashi just walked towards the exit.

"Where are you going?" Iruka asked.

"There's no point in trying. I can't do a proper bunshin so I can't pass" Masashi explained before exiting.

Naruto's Turn

"Okay make three clones Naruto," said the other instructor, Mizuki.

"Okay here it goes! Bunshin on jutsu!" Smoke covered the room and once dispersed revealed a sickly looking version of Naruto. It couldn't even stand.

"You fail Naruto" Iruka said.

"Iruka-sensei" Mizuki began, "…this time he did basically make a bunshin, even if it was a little sluggish. What if we just give him a break?"

Naruto's hopes were raised but were destroyed by Iruka's reply. "The answer is still no. The requirements were for three clones. Naruto only made one and a poor one at that. His performance doesn't stand up for a pass"

oOo

Outside the Academy

Naruto and Masashi were outside sitting at the tree outside the academy, Naruto on the swing and Masashi on the branch above. They watched as friends and family congratulate all the students who passed the exams. All the while, they gave Naruto and Masashi harsh looks while whispering about them.

"I'm going to train for a little bit" Masashi said dropping from the branch. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Yeah, see ya later" Naruto said a little out of it. Naruto got up and said "I'm gonna go for a walk just so you know"

"Okay" Masashi said before jumping off toward the woods.

Few Minutes Later in the Village

"Naruto!"

Naruto was interrupted from his walking to find himself in front of Mizuki. "Mizuki-sensei"

"Can I talk to you for a little bit Naruto?"

"Uh, sure" Naruto replied.

"Lets go to a more comfortable place first" Mizuki said.

Nearby Rooftop

"Iruka-sensei is a pretty serious guy" Mizuki began, "His parents died when he was young. So, everything he accomplished by himself through hard work and discipline"

"What's that got to do with me?" Naruto asked.

"So, you remind of himself" Mizuki explained, surprising Naruto. "He thinks he's helping you to grow strong. Try giving him a break…you can understand where he's coming from? One orphan to another?"

"But I really wanted to graduate" Naruto replied after a few seconds to think.

"Well then…I guess I have no choice than to tell you"

"Huh? Tell me what" Naruto asked confused.

oOo

Third Hokage's Home

"What are you doing in my house in the middle of the night Naruto!?" Hurizen asked after catching Naruto in his house.

"Behold! Sexy Jutsu!"

"Agh!"

Naruto quickly found the scroll he was looking for and headed towards the woods.

Woods

Masashi was headed back to the village after taking his frustrations out on some poor trees. He tried using the chakra blades he got from Asuma but it felt weird using them. Masashi figured he needed more practice with them to get use to them and that he should ask tips from Asuma. After, his beating up of harmless, peacful trees he fell asleep.

When Masashi woke up it was already night so he decided to head home. Masashi was moving through the woods when something orange caught his eyes. It was Naruto; he was sitting in a clearing looking at a big scroll. 'What is he doing?' thought Masashi. Masashi went up to Naruto and asked "Hey Naruto, what are you doing out here?!

"Masashi!" Naruto said excitedly, "I'm taking a redo for the exams. If I learn the justus from this scroll I can become a ninja! Since you're here you can take the test too."

"Okay, why not?" Masashi replied, "What jutsu are you working on now?"

Masashi thought the test sounded weird but he pushed that thought to the back of his mind. He had a chance to pass and learn some new jutsu.

"The Shdow Clone Jutsu" Naruto said.

"Really? A bunshin jutsu? I thought we sucked at those why would you want to try learning that?"

"Well it's a different bunshin justsu so I thought it would be different? And it's the first one in there"

"Okay well whatever" Masashi said sitting down. "Pass the scroll"

oOo

Ten Hours Later

Naruto and Masashi were sitting (or in Masashi's case laying) on the ground panting after hours of practice. They only stopped for breaks, to relieve themselves, and two hours of sleep.

"Gotcha!" A voice said. Naruto and Masashi both looked up to see Iruka standing in front of them.

Naruto stood up and shouted "About time, Nose Bleed! I found you!" while pointing at Iruka.

"No, you fool! I found You!" Iruka yelled.

"Hehe…I guess you have got us. I was only able to memorize one technique"

"You both look exhausted. What have you been doing?" Iruka asked.

"Yeah and if I show you I can master these techniques, you have to let us graduate"

'_What_?' Iruka thought '_What is he talking about?' _

"You guys what's with the scroll"

"Mizuki-sensei told Naruto about this scroll and this clearing. He said we could learn the techniques in the scroll…you'd let us graduate!" Masashi explained.

'_Mizuki?!_' thought Iruka before he sensed something. He pushed Masashi and Naruto away before multiple kunai hit him. He was luckily still able to stand because of the shack he was leaning against.

Mizuki appeared on a tree nearby. "I'm impressed you know where to go" Mizuki said. "Now, Naruto hand me the scroll"

"What is this!?" Naruto yelled shocked and confused.

"What going on here!?" Masashi asked.

"Don't let him have it you two! Protect that scroll with your lives!" Iruka yelled. "Its more dangerous than you know- it holds the records of completely forbidden jutsus. Mizuki used you Naruto because he wants it for himself!"

"Naruto. Masashi. Even if you read the scoll it will be meaningless. I can show you what it means." Mizuki said.

"Shut up you fool!" Iruka yelled.

"Do you really want to know what really happened during the Nine-tails' attack twelve years ago?" Mizuki asked. "Since that incident…the people of the village have been bound by a decree."

"What decree? I don't remember any decree," Masashi asked.

"You two wouldn't. You two were not to be told of it"

"Except us!?" Naruto asked confused. "…Why not us? What law are you talking about?" Mizuki just started laughing. "What was the decree!?"

"Stop!" Iruka yelled.

"That the demon fox that attacked thirteen years ago is you Naruto! You're the one who killed Iruka's parents and probably Masashi's as well" Mizuki explained with an evil smirk. "The Fourth Hokage was able to seal you into this form. Everyone hates you because of this and the only one you were able to influence in this form was Masashi."

Naruto stood shocked, this explained why everyone avoided him and treated him badly all these years. Naruto looked to Masashi, who had a shocked face. He probably killed Masashi's parents and now his best friend will hate him.

Naruto was pushed out from his thoughts when he was pushed to the ground. He looked to see Masashi over him along with Iruka. But Iruka had a giant shuriken in his back that Mizuki had thrown.

"Why?" Naruto asked shocked. Why would Masashi and Iruka save him? He killed the parents, their chances to grow up happy.

Masashi looked down to Naruto. "You're my friend no matter what Naruto. We've been through a lot together. Fox or no fox you'll remain my friend. And if you are the fox then you are a better version of it than thirteen years ago" Masashi said smiling. Masashi looked over his shoulder towards Iruka and asked "But…Iruka-sensei why would you do this for us? We've only caused you problems."

"I understand how you two feel." Said through tears. "With my parents gone…I became the class clown for attention. It was better being one than being alone and a nobody. I know I was hard on you two with scolding and yelling…it must have hurt. Forgive me. If I'd been a better teacher…a better person maybe this would have never happened"

Naruto made a dash out of the clearing. Not looking back once and with the scroll.

"Naruto!" Iruka yelled after him.

"Don't worry Iruka-sensei I'll talk to him then we can all find out what's going on" Masashi said, looking a little shaken, jumping after Naruto.

"Naruto already made up his mind. He's gonna take revenge on the village and you know it. He'll end up killing his friend in the process too. You can tell by the look in his eyes, the look of the Fox!" Mizuki yelled crazily. "

Iruka looked up at Mizuki and pulled the giant shuriken out of his back. "Arrgh…you don't know Naruto and Masahi at all" Iruka said.

"I don't need to know them to kill them" Mizuki said "I'll finish you later after I get the scroll and kill those brats" Mizuki jumped off towards the way Naruto and Masashi went.

Other Area of the Woods

"Naruto!"

Naruto turned around to see Iruka.

"Quick, give me the scroll! It's what Mizuki is after!" Iruka yelled.

Naruto quickly punched Iruka, knocking both of them to the ground. Smoke covered Iruka showing him to actually be Mizuki. "How did you know I wasn't Iruka?" he asked.

"Because I'm him" Smoke covered 'Naruto' revealing him to actually be Iruka.

With Naruto

Meanwhile Naruto was coincidently hiding behind a nearby tree. He ran away from all them because he needed to think, some time to himself. He saw Iruka amd mizuki crash nearby and was trying to listen. Then Masashi landed at the base of the tree across from him. Masashi sat down and put his finger to his mouth telling Naruto to stay quiet.

Iruka and Mizuki

"So noble!" Mizuki said sarcastically " saving your parents' murderer. What happens I we let him live?"

"Then maybe the scroll is safe from a complete scumbag" Iruka said.

"Him and me want the scroll for power. The demon hungers for the power, Iruka. You were right to fear him…despise him…"

"Maybe I do hate the fox…but not Naruto. Not the boy. For hom, I have nothing but respect. He is an excellent student. He tries his hardest but he's clumsy, awkward, and a screw-up. People have shunned and mocked him and its give him empathy. He knows what it is to be in pain. That boy is no longer your demon fox! He is a citizen on Kohonagakure…Uzumaki Naruto."

"Awww that's so sweet! It just makes me all warm and fuzzy" Mizuki mocked. "I was gonna kill you last…but somethings just don't go the way you plan…so goodbye!" Mizuki rushed towars Iruka with his giant shuriken.

Iruka readied himself for the final blow. But Mizuki was knocked down by an orange blur. Iruka looked to see Naruto and Masashi on a nearby branch.

"Keep away from Iruka-sensei" Naruto said, " or we will kill you!"

Iruka was shocked they were here and yelled "Stupid kids…you should have stayed away! Get out of here! Save youselves!"

"You brats!" Mizuki yelled, "I'll kill you two in one blow!"

"Bring it on" Naruto yelled, "Anything you thow at us we'll give back a thousand times over"

"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" both boys yelled. Hundreds of clones appeared everywhere!

"Lets go Masashi!" Naruto said.

"Right"

A few Minutes and a Beaten-up Mizuki Later

"Hehe…I guess we got carried away" Naruto said rubbing the back of his head.

"Yeah and I'm gonna go to sleep now" Masashi said groggily as he laid down and began sleeping.

"Haha" Iruka laughed before turning to Naruto. "Naruto come here I got a present for you." Naruto walked over to Iruka. " Now close your eyes"

Naruto felt his goggles being removed. Then he felt something wrapped around his head. "Can I open my eyes now Iruka-sensei?" he asked.

"Yes Naruto, you can open your eyes!"

Naruto opened his eyes to see Iruka without his hedband,

"Congratulations…you graduate. We'll tell Masashi he graduates after he wakes up and to celebrate this I'll treat you two to ramen later"

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Naruto yelled tackling Iruka in a hug.


	4. The Honorable Grandson & Teams

**Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does, but I do own my own OCs.**

Academy

Outside a closed room within the academy, Masashi was waiting for Naruto to finish his photo for his shinobi ID. Masashi was looking back on all that happened in the last few days. First, there was failing the final exams. Then, learning some new jutus and believing that Masashi and him could graduate. Next, there was learning Mizuki-sensei tricked them and was a traitor after the Forbidden Scroll. But the best thing that happened was because they were able to stop Mizuki, Naruto and him could graduate. Masashi was happy and couldn't wait 'till they could begin their lives as shinobi.

Even though Masashi was happy, he still had some things that were poking at the back of his head. Mizuki-sensei had said Naruto was the Kyuubi reincarnated or something like that. He for a fact that Naruto was not the Kyuubi or he would have leveled Konaha for the all things they have done to him. The only thing that he could think of was the Kyuubi being sealed into Naruto. But, why would the Yondaime choose to seal the Kyuubi into Naruto? What did Naruto do to deserve this? Why couldn't he had sealed it in a statue or something? Honestly, he was kind of pissed off at the Yondaime right now, the Hero of the Leaf who stopped the Kyuubi basically sentenced Naruto to a life of pain.

Did he take Naruto from his parents or worse, did he take him from his parents after they had died?

Masashi stopped his thoughts when the door opened revealing Naruto with face paint on. "You actually went through with it?" he deadpanned. The other day, Naruto said he was gonna do some awesome thing with face paint for his shinobi ID. Masashi thought it was funny when Naruto told him but he didn't think that Naruto would actually go through with it.

"Yeah I did!" Naruto exclaimed proudly, "Its gonna look awesome".

"Yeah…okay. Lets just go meet with Iruka-sensei and Jiji" Masashi said amused.

**A Room within the Academy**

"Do it over"

"Eh!" Naruto explained.

Masashi sat next to Naruto and was currently a little bit annoyed. Naruto had gone on about how great his picture was. How it took him hours to get the right shot and how great the face paint was. Jiji was looking over their photos for their shinobi IDs and the yearbook for the graduates and he didn't looked pleased at all. He knew it was just going to give him a headache listening Naruto complain later and trying to talk to him about it.

"What concerns me more is that you're not wearing your hitai-ate –the headband that marks as an adult shinobi of this village?" Hiruzen scolded.

"I was gonna wait 'till after the ceremony tomorrow so it wouldn't get damaged" Naruto replied. Hiruzen could understand that, the hitai-ate was a symbol that one was now qualified to be one. Naruto wanted to wait until his first official day as a shinobi.

"…In any case, the profiles in this yearbook are essential intelligence resource for the village. They are used to place you on teams, types of missions you'll be best for, and by using such a face no one will take you seriously. People will not hire a shinobi who doesn't take their job seriously."

"I didn't know about all that stuff!" said the surprised Naruto. Naruto was going to say more but some kid with a long scarf and helmet (which looked liked it was made of a ball), came in with a shuriken shouting "Got you now old man!" and then tripped over his own scarf.

"Haha… I get it. It was a trap," the kid said to no one in particular. Naruto looked confused, _'Who the hell is this kid'_ he thought. Masashi just thought it was funny and snickered.

A creepy looking guy with creepy shades come in and yells frantically, "Are you alright honored grandson?" Now Masashi was confused, _'Who the hell are these people?'._

The kid get up and points to both Naruto and Masashi, "Aha, you where the ones who tripped me! Right?!".

'_Is this kid stupid?'_ Masashi thought. Naruto on the other hand got pissed and grabbed the kid by his shirt and yelled "You fell over you own feet!"

"Unhand him at once Naruto! He is the grandson of our revered Lord, the Third Hokage" the weird creepy sunglasses guy yelled. "So? Take your best shot!" the kid challenged Naruto.

Naruto looked at Masashi, who stood up and nodded. Both simultaneously, punched the kid on the head while Naruto yelled, "Like we care idiot!" Naruto and Masashi left the room with the kid sprawled out on the floor.

oOo

Naruto and Masashi had been walking for ten minutes now, heading towards Ichiraku Ramen. Throughout, the whole time, the kid from earlier was following them. Naruto was getting annoyed at the kid's presence while Masashi didn't care.

"Alright!" Naruto yells while stopping, "Quit following us! And I can see you right there!" The kid dropped the camouflaged tarp he was trying to use to blend in with the fence but he was holding it the wrong way so the lines didn't match.

"So you managed to see through my skills. The rumors of your prowess do not lie!", the kid said, "Teach me your skills. I'll be your guys' disciple. Just teach me the Sexy Justu you used on my grandpa. Okay, boss?"

Masashi looked at him weird 'Why does he want to know the Sexy Jutsu?'. Naruto on the other hand was interested for another reason. "Chief…hmm? Okay we'll take you on as our disciple"

"I don't mind" Masashi said with a shrug, " But don't make decisions for me, Naruto, its annoying. And I'm not gonna help teach the jutsu, that's your field Naruto. You're the expert, you made it and use it more than I do"

"Gotcha" Naruto said before turning to the kid, "Okay, first things first, you need to find someone to use as a template first."

**Streets of Konoha**

"Okay kid. Try turning into that lady" Naruto said pointing towards a pretty scarlet haired woman at a stall.

"Gotcha, boss! Transform!" Smoke dissipated to reveal a fat version of her. "So, do I look like her?"

"Eh…the clothes kinda looks like her" Naruto said hesitantly.

"You look nothing like her. She's skinnier and pretty. You did it wrong" Masashi said honestly. Naruto looked at Masashi in surprise. "What? He needs to know the truth if he wants to get it right. You…"

Masashi stopped when he noticed the woman, the kid transformed into, behind Naruto. Naruto noticed and slowly turned around. "That looks like me!" she said angrily before punching Naruto in the face. She looked at the kid and said with a smile, "Now, next time you transform into me, Honorable Grandson, make me a little cuter. Okay?" She turned to Masashi and said "Thank you for the compliment and trying to get the Honored Grandson to look more like me"

"Um…no problem" Masashi said confused and slightly scared, as the woman walked away.

"She's scary" the kid said while shaking.

"Yeah" Masashi agreed. One second she was all angry, then the next nice and cheery. _'Women are scary. Note to self: Don't piss a women off. Especially, about their looks.'_

"Why was I the only one to get hurt?" Naruto asked, sprawled out on the ground. "You were the one who did the jutsu"

**In Front of Book Store**

"Now, we're going to study female beauty" Naruto said with confidence.

"Alright, got it boss!"

"Okay lets go", Naruto said before turning to Masashi, "You coming?"

"I'll wait out here," Masashi said, "I'll watch out for…any trouble. Yeah, trouble. So, you to go ahead" Masashi knew the research was gonna be a swimsuit magazine. He knew because that's what he learned with when learning the jutsu from Naruto. He would stay outside, where it was safe. He was proven right when he heard yelling and Naruto coming out with a black eye.

**Bath House**

"Slight setback" Naruto said, "Now, here is the last stop. Ready?"

"Ready, boss!"

"Transform". Both turned into their female forms.

"You going to stand watch again?" Naruto's female form, Naruko, asked.

"Yup" Masashi said with a thumb's up. Masashi waited again until the screaming started and Naruto came out with a swollen face. Naruto always got beat up going into the female's locker room. Surprisingly, Masashi only got yelled at when he went into the locker room. _'Maybe It's because of the Kyuubi that Naruto is treated worse than me?'_

"Looks like you had fun" Masashi said smiling. "All jokes aside, Naruto you could of just changed your clothes and hair color. They probably wouldn't recognize you. I do that all the time when I go shopping."

"What?" Naruto whined, "Why, didn't you tell me that in the first place? I wouldn't have got hit and I could have bought things cheaper"

"Well you never asked" Masashi said, " And I thought it was common sense when you change into someone else you change your clothes so people won't recognize you"

"Okay, whatever. Lets just continue training the kid."

**Woods**

"Why am I the one being hit?" Naruto complained.

"Sorry" the kid said, "Its because I'm the gradson of a Hokage". _'He looked a little sad as he said that' _Masashi thought.

"Don't worry" Masashi said with a smile, "Naruto has prepared you for the Sexy Jutsu. All you need to do is practice"

"Yeah, once you practice enough you'll get in down on no time!" Naruto added.

**A Few Hours Later**

After hours of Naruto yelling and the kid trying to get the perfect figure for the Sexy Jutsu everyone decided to take a beak. They were currently sitting on a log drinking some soda as a refresher.

"So…" Naruto began while looking at the kid, "what's the deal with you and the old man?"

"My name –Konohamaru… my grandfather named me after the ancient name for the village", the now known Konohamaru explained, "He said it would bring me luck. But even though everyone knows it they never use it. Its always "Honorable Grandson" and I hate it. Im stuck in his shadows. Its like I'm invisible, no one sees me for who I am… That's why I need to become Hokage so that it will change"

"Who would respect a Hokage like you?" Naruto asked.

"Huh?"

"It's too big a name for a little guy", Naruto said, "It won't be easy to become Hokage. You wont get because you want it especially after a few days. If you want to become Hokage that badly…"

"What? What? What do I need to do?!"

"You'll have to get past me!" Naruto said with a smile.

"Actually…" Masashi interrupted, "You need to get past me because I'm gonna be Hokage before the both of you. There's no shortcut to becoming Hokage. You have to work the hardest and try your hardest to become Hokage."

"Hey who said you were gonna be Hokage before me?" Naruto asked a little annoyed.

"Cat-tra? Really?" Masashi asked amused. Naruto had tried explaining the power of ninja to Konohamaru earlier but ended up calling it "cat-tra" instead of charkra.

"Shut up!"

"There you are!"

All three of the boys looked behind them to see the creepy sunglasses guy on a tree. Masashi just got annoyed but he noticed Naruto get angry. Probably because of the look the jonin was giving them, the same look most people in the village gave them.

The jonin jumped down in front of them. "It is time to go home Honored Grandson" he commanded.

"No way! Not yet" refused Konohamaru, "I still need to learn how to kick the old man's butt and become the next Hokage."

"Honored Grandson…" he began. Masashi decided to ignore the little monologue about how he was qualified to train Hokages. Masashi looked at Naruto and motioned his head to Konohamaru. Naruto nodded and began whispering to Konahamaru.

Konohamaru stepped forward and yelled, " Sexy Jutsu!" The smoke faded from the technique to reveal a naked brunette who had curves in all the right places. Naruto looked proudly at his disciple and Masashi was impressed that Konohamaru was able to finally transform into a good-looking female.

"What a vulgar display!" the jonin declared, "It is not fit for a gentleman's eyes and I will not fall for it!" He began to try to drag Konohamaru away by his scarf but Konohamaru struggled so much that the jonin couldn't move him a feet. "Honored Grandson if you lower yourself to consort with such creatures of this sort you will descend to their level. By following my teachings you'll be able to be Hokage. Now, lets go home."

Masashi got pissed off at this asshole jonin and looked to see that he had further pissed off Naruto. "Naruto wanna take him down?" Naruto just nodded.

"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" both boys yelled. The area was soon filled with dozens of clones of Naruto and Masashi.

"I'm an elite jonin" the jonin declared, "This is child's play only a weak-minded fool like Mizuki would fall for this"

"Harem Jutsu" both boys yelled. All the clones turned into naked female versions of Naruto and Masashi who began "fawning over" the jonin. The jonin was blasted off hundreds of feet away by his bloody nose.

"I knew he was a pervert" Masashi said.

"Yeah definitely" Naruto agreed.

"Blast it!" Konohamaru said, "I didn't beat four-eyes! I want a name everyone will respect right now!"

"You thinking wanting is all it takes?", Naruto questioned, "Dream on! You're talking about the Hokage, the greatest and strongest shinobi in town, who everyone respects. Are you ready to make a commitment?"

"Commitment?"

"Everyone has the highest respect for the title of Hokage", Naruto said, "Don't you get it? There are no shortcuts. If you want to become Hokage that badly…you have to get past me first!"

"Didn't I say that already?" Masashi asked Naruto.

"Yeah, but I said it way more cooler" Naruto said cheekily.

"Where do you get off lecturing me!" Konohamsru yelled, "I'm not going to be your disciple any more! From this point forward…we will be rivals! One day the three of us will fight for the title of Hokage!"

"You better look forward to that…" Naruto began as Masashi and him began walking away, "Konohamaru."

"See 'ya around Konohamaru", Masashi said.

oOo

**Academy the Next Day**

Naruto was sitting in the classroom and was as happy as he could be. Today, he would finally become a shinobi. Plus, he was hoping he could talk to Haruno Sakura today.

"What are you two doing here Naruto?!" one student yelled after taking notice of his and Masashi's presence.

"Class today is only for those who graduated!" another student said.

"Can't you see the headbands?!" Naruto said pointing to his headband and towards Masashi who was sitting next to the window lost in thought.

The questioning of Naruto ended when running was heard from the hallway. Masashi and everyone turned to see it was Sakura and Ino. They began arguing who made it first to the class. They stopped arguing when Sakura made her way to the row Naruto was in.

"Hey Sakura how ar…" began Naruto before Sakura pushed him out of the way.

"Out of the way Naruto" she yelled before turning to Uchiha Sasuke, who was sitting next to Naruto, "Good morning Sasuke. Do you mind if I sit next to you?"

"No way billboard-brows" Ino said walking up to Sakura, "I got here first, so I should sit text to him"

"Acually, I was here first" said a girl walking up to them.

"So was I" another said.

Soon a whole group of girls were standing with Sakura and Ino. Naruto got annoed from all the attention Sasuke got and crouched on the desk infront of Sasuke. _'What's so great about Sasuke anyway? Why do all the girls like him?'_ Naruto thought. Both of them glared at each other with lightning forming between the two.

"Naruto what are you doing?!" Sakura yelled after noticing what Naruto was doing, "Leave Sasuke alone!"

Naruto was going to keep glaring at Sasuke when he felt himself be picked up and lifted to the side. "Naruto" Masashi said dropping him into the seat next to Sasuke, "Why are you even bothering with Sasuke? He's not worth your time." Masashi turned to Sasuke, "No offense…and sorry about Naruto. He's a litt…"

"Oh sorry did I hit you?" the boy in front of Sasuke said while turning around to see Naruto and Sasuke lip locked. All the girls looked shocked and looked pretty angry.

"Ahh…my mouth" Masashi coughed, "It needs to be sanitized!"

"Masashi, you piece of crap! You're dead!" Sasuke said.

"It's not my fault I was pushed!" Masashi defended.

"Masashi you are so dead!". Masashi looked to see Sakura and the other girls angrily glaring at him. He paled and was about to make a run for it, when Iruka saved his life. Iruka settled the class and told them to take their seats. Masashi sat next to the window away from any of Sasuke's fangirls.

"You are now full-fledged shinobi but, among the ranks of shinobi, you are novices." Iruka began his speech, "Your greatest challenges lie ahead of you. Now, we will put you into teams. You will put into a three-man cell with a jonin overseeing the team and guide you to become great shinobi."

Iruka began calling off names for the teams and was now team 7. "Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto and…", Naruto cheered, "Uchiha Sasuke". Sakura cheered and Naruto deflated. "Your sensei will be Hatake Kakashi".

"Team 8, Hyūga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino" Iruka announced, "Your jonin instructor will be Yūhi Kurenai".

Hinata was from the Hyūga clan, one of the most prestigious clans in the village that's known for their dōjutsu, the Byakugan. Hinata had short blue hair and the lavender eyes that her clan possessed. Hinata was nice girl but she was too shy. She had a huge crush on Naruto. Masashi thought it was stupid that Naruto hadn't noticed she had a crush on him and that she was a better match than Sakura.

Kiba was from the Inuzuka clan, which specialized in ninken, shinobi dogs. He had two red tattoos on both sides of his cheeks, like many of his clan members had. He black had short spikey brown hair with canine looking eyes. Kiba was an arrogant and cocky person, but he was a good person. Masashi and Naruto would skip class and hangout with him sometimes. Naruto and Kiba had a rivalry going on but Masashi like Kiba's ninken, Akamaru, more.

Shino was from a clan that specialized in ninjutsus that incorporate the insects that live within them. Shino had short black hair and that's all you could really tell because his eyes were covered by his sunglasses and had most of his face covered. Shino was a quiet person who usually didn't talk much. Naruto thought Shino was weird and kind of creepy but Masashi thought he seemed nice.

"Team 9 is still in circulation from last year, so we'll move to team ten" Iruka said. "Team 10, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akamichi Chōji. You're jonin instructor is Sarutobi Asuma".

Masashi was perked up at that. He didn't know Asuma would be a jonin instructor. He would have liked to be part of his squad. He could have learned to use the chakra blades from Asuma. Masashi turned his attention to the members of team 10.

Ino was from a clan that specialized in mind techniques. Ino had platimum blonde hair held in a ponytail with some of the bangs hanging out. Ino also had turquoise colored eyes. Naruto and Masashi thought she was loud and annoying. She was another fangirl for Sasuke and was a rival with Sakura.

Shikamaru was part of the Nara clan, which specializes in ninjustsu that involves shadow and watch over the deer within the Nara clan Forest. Shikamaru had spikey black hair put in an upward ponytail. Naruto and Masashi also skipped class with Shikamaru. Naruto thought Shikamaru was a lazy bum. Masashi thought he was a smart and just really laid back. Masashi liked watching clouds with him sometimes, when they got the chance.

Chōji's clan has great physical strength and use techniques involving their bodies. Chōji was on the chubby side and loved to eat. He had short orange hair with black pupil eyes. Most of the time you would see him eating some type of junk food, usually chips. Naruto enjoyed hanging out with Chōji and both enjoyed eating together. Masashi also liked Chōji becaused they shared a love for food and because he was kind hearted.

"Okay, last team will be team 11" Iruka announced, "Since there is an odd number of graduates this year, this team will be a four man team lead by Hatake Minori. The team will consist of Miyako Yami, Inoue Akira, Inoue Keiko, and Uzumaki Masashi." Masashi looked to observe his teammates.

Masashi didn't know much about Yami except that she joined the academy a year ago. She usually kept to herself but she seemed reliable enough. She did well in the physical training from what Masashi observed of her. Yami had spikey purple hair held in a ponytail that went to her shoulders and amber eyes that made Masashi think of an animal but he couldn't pin what animal it reminded him of.

Akira and her sister, Keiko, weren't from any clans but their mom was well known kunoichi outside the village. Akira had forest-green hair with black tips that fell to her butt. Akira and her sister both had light brown eyes with specks of purple that were pretty captivating. Akira was pretty popular with everyone; she talked to both boys and girls all the time. Akira seemed like a carefree person who likes having fun. She's very pretty, most of the boys call her hot, and she likes to flirt with the boys who fawn over her.

Keiko had the same blacked-tipped forest-green hair as her sister but it was a little spikey and it only reached her mid-neck. Keiko in contrast to her sister seemed more levelheaded; responsible. She always seemed to pay attention in class and has this aurora of refinement to her. Although, Keiko only seemed to interact with others when she needed to.

Overall, Masashi thought he had a decent team. Although, he was wondering why his team was a four-man squad (even with Iruka's explanation) and seemed to be made up of all girls. One of his questions was answered when Naruto complained about being on the same team as Sasuke. Iruka-sensei explained that teams were made with the balance in skill in mind. Masashi figured their skills went well together and was balanced but it was still weird that they were all girls.

"Okay that's all the teams" Iruka announced, "You'll all meet your jonin instructors after lunch. Until then, you're dismissed"

Masashi immediately got up and jumped out the window. He wanted to see if he could find Yūgao-neechan and tell her about his team and maybe ask how to interact with girls. Masashi never really had contact with girls his age, since he mostly hungout with Naruto.

Naruto followed Sakura who followed Sasuke. Both their attemps to eat lunch with the one they liked failed. Rather than give up, Naruto thought of a great plan and headed off to look for his duck-butt haired teammate.

**With Masashi**

Masashi couldn't find Yūgao-neechan, he figured she was working, so he ate lunch by himself. He was heading back to the academy when he spotted Naruto jumping Sasuke. Sasuke seemed to win, so Masashi decided to go and see if Naruto was all right. Masashi was surprised to see a tied up Sasuke instead of Naruto. He then realized what Naruto might be doing so he jumped off towards the academy. What of Sasuke you might ask? Well, Masashi thought he could handle himself. Plus, he deserved it for being an all-around asshole.

Masashi soon came upon "Sasuke" sitting on a bench with Sakura. Honestly, he didn't know what Naruto saw in her. She was pretty, he could admit, but she was always fawning over the Uchiha or when Naruto tried interacting with her she was a complete bitch to him. She paid more attention to guy who gave her no mind while ignoring Naruto who always tried to get her attention. Also, Masashi didn't like the color of her hair.

Masashi observed their conversation from a nearby tree and it pissed him off. "Sasuke" asked what Sakura thought of Naruto and her response was that she basically hated him. She said she only really wanted to get close to Sasuke. _'What a pathetic excuse for a kunoichi'_ he thought. She was about to kiss Naruto when Naruto suddenly ran off towards the academy.

**With Sasuke**

Sasuke was pissed off and wanted to find Naruto. He was enjoying his lunch when Naruto decided to interrupt and attack him. He thought he had the upper hand but Naruto somehow overwhelmed him. He spotted Sakura and headed towards her.

"Lunch is over. Where's that jerk, Naruto?" he asked her.

"Oh, there you go changing the subject again. Can't we just get away from Naruto for one second? He's always comes between us. It's because he was badly brought up!"

This stopped Sasuke in his tracks. He looked at Sakura and asked, "You mean…because he never had parents?"

"He doesn't have to answer to anyone, ever, and it's made him completely selfish! If I did the kinds of things he gets away with, my parents would ground me for life! Don't you envy him being alone, not having parents nag at you all the time? But how would he know? Kids that grow up with no parents don't know right from wrong and grow up selfish"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and was about to go off on Sakura, when Masashi jumped down in front of them from somewhere and slapped Sakura across the face. He had a look of anger on his face that Sasuke never saw before.

"You know nothing about us!" Masashi said coldly, "Do you not think that we would trade everything just for parents; to be loved? We messed around for attention whether it was good or bad. You know nothing of our loneliness. So, keep your mouth shut on things you know nothing about you ignorant bitch!"

Masashi began to walk away before looking behind his shoulders at Sakura and saying, "For someone who supposedly loves Sasuke you're pretty insensitive. Sasuke is an orphan too remember? So when you were insulting orphans, alongside us, you were insulting him"

Sasuke looked at Masashi in surprise, he had a new found respect for him. Masashi not only defended Naruto but also decided to defend him as well.

**Academy**

Everyone was returning from lunch and take their seats. Masashi came in and noticed Naruto laying his head on the desk moaning.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked as he took a seat next to Naruto.

"Stomach…hurts…ugh" Naruto replied.

"Probably because you eat too much ramen"

"No way…ramen would…never…ugh…betray me" Naruto said defensively or tried to in his state.

"Okay, I get it. Ramen is good and the food of the gods," Masashi said sarcastically.

Masashi turned his attention to Yami who just entered the room. She walked towards him and sat down in the seat next to him. She gave Masashi a quick glance before looking forward. Masashi just shrugged before deciding to take a nap.

oOo

**Two Hours Later**

All the other teams have already left except teams 7 and 11. Their senseis apparently forgot about them or wanted to be fashionably late. Even Iruka had already left to attend to other things. Although, Masashi did wake up from his nap for a while to talk to Asuma.

Naruto was getting restless and bored from waiting so long. Sakura seemed irritated from waiting so long but kept it less obvious than Naruto. Sasuke just stat in his seat brooding like he always did.

Masashi was still sleeping after he went back to sleep after his talk with Asuma. Yami decided to take a nap too after seeing how comfortable Masashi looked sleeping. Akira and Keiko spent their time talking to each other and eating some snacks.

Naruto got so restless he decided to pull a prank on their senseis. He put an eraser in the doorframe so that the first person that came in would be covered in chalk dust. He got down off the stool to admire his handiwork all the while chuckling.

"This is what they get for coming late!" Naruto announced.

"Grow up!", scoffed Sakura, "I want no part in this". Despite her verbal protest inner Sakura actually like things like this.

"They're jonin" Sasuke said speaking up, "No way, elite ninja like them would fall for a simple trick like that"

Sakura was going to agree with Sasuke when someone entered the room. The eraser fell on his head just as Naruto planned. This earned a laughing Naruto. He was a tall man with gravity defying silver hair, a facemask, and his headband covering his left eye.

"I'm sorry sensei, I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen" Sakura said trying to defend herself.

"My first impression of you…" he began in a bored tone, " is that I hate you".

The members of team 7 took on a semi-worried looks. Being told their sensei hated them wasn't a good way to start a team.

"Lets go. We'll head to the roof" Kakashi announced.

His genin didn't say a word as they followed him to the roof. A few seconds after team 7 left another person entered the classroom. This was Hatake Minori, jonin of team 11. She had silver hair that flowed down to her butt, dark-colored eyes like her brother, and wore he jonin vest unzipped. She looked considerably younger than Kakashi but that was because she was his younger sister by 7 years.

Minori looked at the occupants of the room. "Team 11?" she asked, receiving a nod from the sisters. "Wake those two up and meet on the roof," she said before walking to the roof.

Masashi and Yami were roused from their sleep by the shaking from Akira and Keiko. "Huh?" Masashi said still groggy.

"Sensei told us to wake you two up and bring you to the roof" Keiko told them. She got a nod in reply from the two as they got up and followed her and Akira to the roof.

**Roof of the Academy**

"Alright…" Kasashi said gathering everyone's attention, "we'd like you to introduce yourselves"

"Like what?" Sakura ask.

"The usual things…what you like…what you hate most…dreams, ambitions, and hobbies," clarified Minori.

"Why don't you guys go first," Naruto said, "Show us how it's done".

"Okay" Kakashi said, "My name is Hatake Kakashi. I have many likes such as my cute little sister." This earned an eye roll from Minori. "I don't feel like talking about my dislikes. My dreams for the future…I never really thought about it. As for my hobbies…I have lots of hobbies."

"All we learned was his name and that he's a siscon", Sakura said receiving nods from the other genin except Sasuke and Yami.

"My turn I guess" Minori said. "Well my name is Hatake Minori. I like my friends, my annoying older brother, and relaxing in the hot springs. I dislike…sexists, traitors, and dogs. My hobbies are reading and singing. And my dreams for the future…be a great kunoichi and have a family."

"Okay now that we've gone…" Kakashi said, "Lets start with my team. You with the pink hair, go."

Sakura huffed but introduced herself anyways. "My name is Haruno Sakura. My likes are (looks at Sasuke shyly)…My hobbies are… (looks at Sasuke again)…And my dream for the future is… (again she looks at Sasuke)"

Kakashi sighed, "Okay, what do you hate?"

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled.

"Okay. Let's move on you the blonde" Kakashi said pointing to Naruto.

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto dattebayo!" Naruto said with a smile, "What I like is instant ramen in a cup and I really like the ramen that Iruka-sensei treats me to at Ichiraku Ramen. What I hate is the three minutes you have to wait I pour in the boiling water. My dream is to one day…is to be the beat Hokage! So that everybody will start treating me like somebody! My hobbies are pranks and practical jokes, I guess."

"Next, the Uchiha" said Kakashi.

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I hate a lot of things and there is almost nothing I do like. I don't have a "dream"…but I do have an ambition. I plan to restore my clan and to kill…a certain someone"

Everyone looked at him like he needed some help or in pity. All except Sakura who thought he looked hot.

"Okay" Minori said interrupting the silence, "My teams turn. Amber Eyes you first"

Yami yawned and began to introduce herself. "I'm Miyako Yami. I like dango, rain, training,and canines. I dislike horrible parents, stuck up people, and brussel sprouts. My hobbies are to be a great shinobi and have a happy future. I don't really have any hobbies in particular."

"Thank you, Yami" Minori said, "Now you with the long hair."

"Okay. My name is Inoue Akira. I like games, snacks, my sister, rabbits, and having fun. I dislike boring people, jerks, and vegetables. My hobbies are talking to others, messing around with people, and eating good food. My dreams for the future is to make my mom proud and be happy with my sister"

"That was nice thank you, Akira. Now, the sister."

"My name is Inoue Keiko. I like my sister, snacks, and animals. I dislike perverts, nato, and needles. My hobbies are reading, calligraphy, and cooking. My dreams for the future is for my sister to be happy and to one had have a family"

"Okay, last but not least the boy of the team!"

"My name is Uzumaki Masashi, I'm distantly related to Naruto. I like the people who care about me, Naruto, the forest, the rain, gummies, and music. I dislike perverts, rapist, people who judge others without getting to know them, and…spiders. My hobbies are drawing, cooking (even though I'm not an expert), taking walks, and finding cool places. My dreams…hmmm…well I guess it's to become Hokage before Naruto and to have a family someday"

Everyone was looking at Masashi at the end of his introduction. They didn't think he would give that much info, especially the serious things.

"What?" Masashi asked confused, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no, you did fine" Minori assured.

"I believe we all understand one another," Kakashi announced, "Our first mission will be tomorrow"

"Um…Kakashi-sensei?" Masashi asked.

"Yes?"

"Do you mean all of us? As in both teams?"

"Yes"

"Um…okay but don't teams usually work separately from each other?"

"Usually yes but…"

"But?"

"…we just want to. Plus it's an experiment"

"Ummm…okay" Masashi said a little confused.

"So what are we doing tomorrow? Huh? Huh?" Naruto asked enthusiastically.

"Tomorrow we will be doing survival exercises," Kakashi said with an eye-smile.

"But we did survival exercises in the Academy" Sakura said.

"It won't be your typical survival exercises you faced before" Minori informed them.

Kakashi started to chuckle to himself making the genin look at him like he was crazy. Minori just rolled her eyes at her brother's antics.

"Why are you laughing Kakashi-sensei?" asked Sakura.

"Well if I tell you…you're going to chicken out," Kakashi said in a singsong voice.

"Huh…why?" Naruto asked confused.

"Of the thirty-one students of your graduating class, only 12 or 13 will be accepted as genin. The others will be sent back to the academy for more training. The test we are going to perform has a 66% rate of failure"

"What?!" exclaimed the voice that came from Keiko. "Then what was the graduation test all about?"

"We do that to eliminate the hopeless ones," Minori explained. "The ones left are the ones who show true potential in being a shinobi"

"In any case…" Kakashi said gaining everyone's attention, "we will meet tomorrow at the training field. Bring all your ninja tools and weapons. And don't eat breakfast unless you want to throw up"

"Here are the details of the assignment." Minori said passing out handouts, "Memorize it…and don't be late"

"Okay, your dismissed you cute little genin" Kakashi said with an eye-smile.


	5. Survival Exercises

**Diclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does but I do own my own OCs.**

**AN: I hope you guys have enjoyed the story so far! Sorry for not updating the last few months. I had a lot of family and school things going on. I also want to take the time to clarify some things so not to confuse you. If you don't like some of the things I'm doing, that's fine you can stop reading before becoming frustrated with the story or continue reading to see if you'll like the story.**

**The story will pretty much follow the canon but there will be added events to build on characters. I don't plan on this to be a "gary-stu" story, I plan to develop on both Naruto's and Masashi's lives but Naruto's development will pretty much be canon until Shippuden. Also, I will not be giving Naruto added powers to make him stronger (still want to follow canon, plus he becomes OP in Shippuden anyways). Masashi will gain some abilities but it won't make him OP or necessarily stronger than Naruto. There will also be other OCs further down the story. **

**Naruto's Apartment**

It was 4am in the morning when Uzumaki Naruto was waken from his sleep by the plague of the world; alarm clocks. Naruto groggily got up and walked to the bathroom to get ready. After waking himself with some water Naruto took a quick shower and brushed his teeth. Naruto then proceeded to get dress into his jumpsuit and get everything ready for the survival exercise.

After getting everything ready Naruto dropped off his bag next to the door and headed to the kitchen. Naruto headed to the cabinet and took out a cup of ramen and was about to go heat up some water when he realized something. _'Eh…I'm not suppose to eat anything or I'll throw up. Stupid sensei. He's a sadist for sure for depriving me of breakfast especially ramen!'. _Naruto put the cup of ramen away while continuing to grumble about how his sensei and ramen.

Naruto headed to the door and picked up his bag then proceeded to exit his apartment. He locked up and was about to leave but glanced at Masashi's apartment. He decided to check if his neighbor was awake yet. He walked to Masashi's door and reached behind a pipe that ran next to the door to reveal a key. Naruto opened the door to see groggy Masashi eating a bowl of rice with eggs. "You know we're not suppose to eat rember? Or we'll throw up," Naruto said gaining Masashi's attention.

Masashi looked up from his food to see Naruto sitting down in the chair opposite of him. "Well *yawn* I rather throw up on a full belly," he said patting his stomach, "then not eating at all". Plus, Masashi needed breakfast to help wake him up in the mornings and Naruto knew this. "You should eat too," Masashi said offering some of his food.

"No way. I don't want to throw up because you want me to suffer with you," Naruto said crossing his arms. "But I will have this!" he said grabbing Masashi's glass of juice and chugging it down.

"That was uncalled for," Masashi said as he proceeded to finish his breakfast. Masashi got up and brought his dishes to the sink and soaked them in water. "Let me get my things then we can go," he said to Naruto as head off to his room. He came out with his bag and said, "Let's go".

"Finally!" Naruto exclaimed as they exited Masashi's apartment, "We have only 10 minutes to get the training ground because you woke up late and decide to eat breakfast!"

oOo

**Training Ground 7**

Naruto and Masashi reached the training ground five minutes past 5 o 'clock but were relieved to see that their senseis were not there yet. Everyone else was already there and looked tired, everyone except Sasuke who kept his brooding expression.

"Well…seeing as they're not here yet I'll being taking a short nap," Masashi announced, "Wake me up when they get here". Masashi proceeded to head to a tree and sit against the base of the trunk. "Oyasumi," he said as he closed his eyes.

"You shouldn't be doing that," reprimanded Keiko although she also wanted to join him in taking a nap. She had been up pretty late preparing for the survival exercise that she only got four hours of sleep. "They'll be here soon".

"Don't worry. If they come just wake me up," Masashi said with his eyes still shut. Keiko just sighed and walked over to her sister.

oOo

It's been three hours and the senseis of team 7 and team 11 has not yet to appear. Masashi woke up to see everyone sitting down (still tired) still waiting. Masashi was about to wake up when he realized someone was leaning into is shoulder. He turned to see Yami quietly sleeping against his shoulder. A few seconds later she began to open her eyes and looked into Masashi's eyes. "Sorry," she said as she sat up right, "I guess I moved when I was sleeping".

"Eh…it's okay I don't really mind," Masashi said awkwardly. He never really interacted with Yami before except for a spar when they were at academy (which she wiped the floor with him). "So…what do you think the survival exercise is gonna be?" Masashi asked trying to make small talk.

"I'm not sure," Yami said, "We could have to fight team 7, or last a day in the woods without our senseis knocking us out, or something like that. I'm not sure since there are two teams and Kakashi-sensei seems weird."

"Yeah I guess your right," Masashi said as he got up. "No point in wondering. I guess I'll train a little." Masashi walked up to Naruto and nudged him with his foot. "Naruto, wanna spar a little since we're not doing anything?"

Naruto jumped up and said, "Sure! It's not like I have anything better to do". Naruto followed Masashi a little distance away from where everyone was. Naruto got into a stance and said, "Ready to lose?"

"Ha. You'll be the one loosing today," Masashi said with a grin.

Masashi rushed Naruto and delivered a kick towards his chest. Naruto blocked the kick with his forearm and jumped back and released some kunai. Masashi jumped back nearly avoiding the kunai then jumped towards Naruto clashing kunai with him. Masashi tried to sweep Naruto's feet but failed as Naruto slashed at him with his kunai. Masashi then quickly let loose a few kunai but Naruto quickly doged them and quickly clashed kunai with Masashi once again. Naruto quickly delivered a punch to Masashi's face knocking him back a few feet.

"You gotten better" Masashi said rubbing his face.

"I know" Naruto said smiling, "I been training a lot lately"

"Yeah you have" Masashi said as he lowered his kunai. Masashi stopped and looked to see everyone looking at him and Naruto. "What?"

"Its just that you guys went right at it out of nowhere" Yami said.

"Oh…well I thought it would be better than doing nothing". Everyone nodded their head and decided to train a little before their senseis arrived. Naruto and Masashi realigned their attention before Naruto rushed at Masashi, kunai in hand.

**oOo**

When Kakashi and Minori arrived to the traing ground two hours later they were met with the sight of their genin training. Naruto and Masashi were doing push-ups, Sasuke was practicing throwing kunai and shuriken at a nearby tree while Sakura tried talking to him as she read a scroll, Akira and Keiko were sparing, and Yami was doing curl-ups upside down while hanging off a tree branch. Everyone stopped what they were doing as they noticed their senseis.

"You're late!" Sakura and Naruto yelled.

"Oh sorry. I saw a black cat and had to take the long way around" Kakashi said happily. Everyone sweat dropped at his explanation thinking he was slightly off his rocker.

"What about you sensei?" Masashi asked Minori.

"I was sleeping," she said not bothering to come up with an excuse. Everyone sweat dropped again surprised that she actually told the truth.

"Now that's out of the way," Kakashi said gaining everyone's attention, "Let's begin."

Kaskashi pulled out a clock and placed it on a wooden post. "This alarm will go off at noon. Team 7 your assignment is simple, to get these bells from me," Kakashi said pulling out two bells attached to red string.

"My team…" Minori said looking towards her genin, "all you guys need to do is that each of you must draws some blood from me, obtain a strand of my hair, and to obtain one of these three kunai". Minori held up three kunai but they were different from the standard kunai. The blade of the kunai had a gap in the middle giving the look of a double-pronged kunai and the handle was wrapped in blue cloth instead of the normal white ones.

'_Why is ours' more harder than theirs'_, the genin of team 11 thought. _'Maybe she enjoys watching us suffer'_ thought Masashi.

"Anyone who doesn't meet out requirements…doesn't get lunch," Kakashi said revealing why they didn't want anyone eating breakfast. "Instead you will be tied to these posts, while we eat your lunch in front of you". Everyone groaned realizing they been tricked, except Masashi who was looking around nervously.

"Since there aren't enough bells and kunai for everyone, there will be at least two of you going back to academy", Kakashi said shocking everyone. No one wanted to go back to the academy after all the hard work that got them here. "You can use kunai, shuriken, or any other weapons you desire. Attack with the intent to kill or you'll never stand a chance."

"But that's too dangerous!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Haha…you couldn't even dodge an eraser," Naruto said smugly.

"You know…" Kakashi began, "only the weak speak so loudly. Now let's ignore the loser and start on my signal". Naruto fumed at the insult and charged Kakashi, kunai in hand. In a few seconds, everyone was surprised to find Kakashi standing in the middle of everyone holding Naruto's arm twisted behind his head, pointing his kunai to his own head. "Not so fast. I didn't even say "go"…but at least you struck to kill. So, it seems you begun to respect me". Kakashi released Naruto from his grip and stood next to his sister.

"I'm maybe…just maybe…starting to like you guys," Kakashi said to his team.

"Now…" Minori said wanting to get it over with, "ready…steady…go!"

Everyone quickly disappeared from their positions in the opening. Well, everyone except Kakashi and Naruto. Naruto had it in his mind he could take on Kakashi one-on-one. He quickly charged Kakashi but quckly stopped as Kakashi reached for something in his pouch. Naruto was expecting a weapon but turns out it was a book.

"Ninja Battle Technique Numer One:Taijutsu"

"Taijutsu? Then why are you reading that book?" Naruto asked confused.

"Why? To find out what happens of course," Kakashi answered, "Don't worry, with you being so weak it doesn't matter if I was reading or whaterver…"

"Grrrr…. I'll crush you," Naruto growled as he charged Kakashi. Naruto threw a punch that was easily caught by Kakashi. He then tried to deliver a kick to Kakashi's head but Kakashi evaded by ducking and then throwing Naruto back a few feet. Kakashi was going to get behind Naruto but had to quickly block a leg sweep. The person who attacked him was no other than Masashi.

"Why are you attacking me?" Kakashi asked holding on to Masashi's leg, "I'm not even your sensei so there's no point attacking me".

"Well, Naruto is still a fellow shinobi of the Leaf," Masashi said as he twisted out of Kakashi's grip and landed next to Naruto. "Shouldn't I help a fellow shinobi who is out skilled? Plus, you guys never said we couldn't help each other". Masashi looked at Naruto who nodded to him. They both charged Kakashi, Naruto throwing a punch towards Kakashi's head and Masashi, a kick to his chest. Kakashi quickly caught Masashi's leg and spun him into an incoming Naruto. Naruto was knocked on to his back as Kakashi threw Masashi into a nearby tree.

Naruto quickly got up and charged Kakashi once again but as he was about to hit his target Kakashi disappeared. Kakashi appeared behind Naruto with his hands in the sign of the tiger. "You shouldn't let your enemies get behind you," Kakashi said as he began to lift his fingers up. "Konohagakure's Hiden Technque: A Thousand Years of Death!"

Turns out the jutsu wasn't as scary as it sounded, it was just Kakashi sticking his fingers into Naruto's butt launching him into the nearby stream. Kakashi looked at the stream then to Masashi, who was nowhere to be seen. "Well that was interesting," Kakashi said as he went back to reading his book. Suddenly, two shuriken came flying out of the stream towards Kakashi but he caught them on his fingers without looking away from his book.

Turning his attention back to Naruto, who was crawling out of the stream, Kakashi looked at him unimpressed. "What are you doing? If you don't get a bell you don't get lunch".

"Errr…I know that!", Naruto yelled agrily. He then smirked as twelve Narutos jumped out of the stream. "Now you face my shdow clone jutsu sand now you have to face more than one of me!"

'_These clones aren't illusions they're real. That's the jutsu from the Forbidden Scroll he used to defeat Mizuki'_ Kakashi realized. _'But he couldn't hold the jutsu for more than a few minutes at his level'_. Kakashi was impressed that Naruto could use a jutsu like that but Nauto was too inexperienced and brash to utilize it well. "You talk big but your trick isn't enough to win".

Everyone was then surprised to see a Naruto jump on to Kakashi's back and hold on to him from behind. "Hehe…hi sensei, nice to see you again. You shouldn't let your opponent get behind you,right?". Sasuke and Sakura were surprised at what they were witnessing and slightly impressed. "I sent my clone out first posing as me as I circled around you!", explained Naruto as other clones latched on to Kakashi's limbs. "Now I'm gonna get payback for what you did to me. Prepare yourself!" The clones all charged at Kakashi ready to strike.

Too bad they didn't hit their target. Before they realized it they were holding on to another Naruto. Naruto and the clones then began accusing each other of being Kakashi and then escalating to them beating each other up. "Wait! If he used a henge then just drop the jutsu then you'll know which one is him", one clone said. "Why didn't you that sooner!", the real Naruto said.

"Because I'm you, idiot!", the clone fired back. Naruto then dispelled his clones only to be met with no one but his confused self in the middle of the field. _'Huh...where did he go?_', Naruto thought looking around. His gaze then landed on something shiny by a nearby tree. '_A bell! Today must be my lucky day!_' Naruto thought as he made his way towards it. Imagine his surprise when he ended up hanging upside down from a tree just as he was about to grab it.

"Wow", Kakashi said as he appeared and picked up the bell, "you must be stupid to fall for such an obvious trap. Shinobi are supposed to look underneath the underneath".

"I know that!", Naruto yelled as he flailed around in anger. Kakashi sighed and looked at Naruto annoyed. "No you don't that's why I'm telling you, you idiot".

Naruto was about to argue back when a barrage of kunai and shuriken flew out of nowhere and hit Kakashi. "What the heck?! What the hell Sasuke! That was overkill, you didn't kill our sensei right?" Suddenly Kakashi "poofed", revealing a log covered in kunai and shuriken instead of their sensei. _'Dammit! He used a substitution justsu again'_, Sasuke thought as he began to move, _'I gave my position away. I have to move before he finds me'_.

Naruto was mumbling to himself as he began to cut himself down. _'Stupid sensei, no way am I going to fall for another of his traps'_, Naruto thought as he landed on the ground once more. He was pulled from his insults of his sensei as he found himself upside down once again. "What the hell! He set another trap under the first one!"

**With Sakura**

Sakura was moving around the forest as she looked for Sasuke. _'Where are you Sasuke. Sensei hasn't gotten you has he? No! I wont believe it! Not Sasuke-kun!'_ Sakura stopped at a nearby bush and looked through it into the foliage. She saw Kakashi standing in an opening reading his book. _'Great…he hasn't noticed me'_.

"Psst…Sakura behind you".

'_What!'_ Sakura turned to come face to face with her sensei crouching next to her before seeing a flash. When she opened her eyes again she was standing in swirl of leaves. _'What's going on? Where's sensei!'_

"Sakura…" a voiced called out to her. _'I know that voice. Sasuke!'_ Sakura quickly turned around to find her beloved Sasuke-kun. Only she didn't expect to see a bloody Sasuke with kunai and shuriken littering his body. "Sakura…help me…" Sasuke groaned.

And Sakura did what any fangirl would do when they saw their crush sporting various weapons sticking out of their body…she screamed. "Ahhhhhhh!"

Outside in the real world Kakashi was sitting on a branch looking down on Sakura's unconscious body. _'Maybe the genjutsu was too much…nah'_

**With Sasuke**

"That scream…" Sasuke was searching for Kakashi when a scream pierced the quiet forest.

"The shinobi art of genjutsu…and Sakura fell for it" There was Kakashi standing there reading his book like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"I'm not like those two…" Sasuke said with confidence. He wasn't like those two weaklings. He was part of the elite Uchiha clan. They would just hold him back.

"Maa Maa, you shouldn't act so boastful when you haven't even got a bell yet…Sasuke" Kakashi admonished. "And being different doesn't necessarily make you better".

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the silver haired jonin. He quickly released shuriken at Kakashi. "You think an attack like this is gonna work?" Kakashi taunted. Only to be on guard when he saw Sasuke's smirk. 'A trap?!' Kakashi quickly dodged the knives that embedded themselves in the spot Kakashi once stood. Suddenly Sasuke appeared behind Kakashi delivering a powerful kick. Kakashi quickly blocked and grabbed the offending limb. Sasuke then quickly tried to deliver a punch, which was quickly caught, but he twisted as his hand reached for one of the bells. But Kakashi was too fast and threw him away from him before he could snag a bell.

'This one is good' Kakashi thought, 'I can't even read Icha Icha'. He was different from the others and stronger. Kakashi's attention was quickly drawn to Sasuke's hands as he performed multiple hand signs. _'What? A fire style jutsu. That jutsu is beyond anybody just out of the academy…his chakra shouldn't be developed enough for this yet!'_

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu". Sasuke's jutsu covered the area that Kakashi stood and left a scorched crater. The only problem was there was no Kakashi. _'Where is he? Behind me…? Above me…?' _But Sasuke realized where…below.

"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu" Kakashi said as he pulled Sasuke underground, up to his head. "Shinobi art of ninjutsu…but at least your performance was head and shoulders above your companians" Kakashi said chuckling. Kakashi began walking away, "Oh well, you know what they say! The nail that sticks up is the one that gets hammered, right? Hehehehe"

**With Naruto**

Naruto was hanging from his position hanging from another trap. His eye caught the tree stumps and the stone behind them. The thing that caught his eyes the most was the bento on top of the stone. "Hehehe…look underneath the underneath huh?" Naruto chuckled as he cut himself down.

Naruto quickly made his way to the stone. He sat down and placed the bento at his lap. "If I can't get a bell I'll be fine as long as I eat everyone's lunch. Hehehe".

"Ahem!"

"Uhh…just kidding?" Naruto asked as he realized he been caught. He was soooo screwed.

"Too late" Kakashi replied seriously.

**With Sasuke**

Sasuke was brooding as he was trying to dig his way out of the ground. He was so close to getting a bell. He had to admit his sensei was strong and he needed to get stronger to surpass him and be able to face…him. He was drawn from his brooding as Sakura stopped in front of him. For a few seconds they shared an awkward stare before Sakura freaked out.

"Eeek…Sasuke has been decapitated!" Sakura screamed before fainting. Sakura began to awaken. She began to stir to a voice. "Sakura…Sakura…" Sakura opened her eyes to see Sasuke kneeling above her. "Sasuke-kun you're alive!" she exclaimed as she hugged Sasuke.

"Yeah…okay…you can let go now!" Sasuke said irritated. "I'm going it's almost noon. Times running out"

"Sasuke-kun do you really think that you can get a bell from Kakashi-sensei?"

"I got close enough to touch them…I'll get them this time" Sasuke paused, "Only I can kill him"

"Who? You mean Kakshi-sensei?"

"He made me cry…"

"You cried?" Sakura asked with surprise and confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"My goal is to have my revenge" Sasuke said as he mind wandered to…that person. "I need to become stronger than _he_ is…now!" Sasuke was interrupted from his little monologue by the ringing of the bell. "Crap…I should have held my breath".

**Team Seven**

There they were the newly formed team seven sitting next to the posts. Well…Sasuke and Sakura were, Naruto was tied to one of the post.

"Listen to those little stomachs" Kakashi said as he stood before his genin. "I have an announcement. You don't need to worry about being sent to the academy…" Kakashi ignored Naruto's cheers of joy, Sakura's confused face, and Sasuke's 'hn', "because you are all hopeless. Going back would be pointless. None of you will ever become shinobi!"

"What you want us to give up just because we didn't get your stupid bell?!" yelled an angry Naruto. In Naruto's mind Kakashi was being a hard-ass and was trying to ruin his dream. This is what he was training for all those years he wasn't going to be stopped here!

"Its not that you didn't get a bell…" Kakashi began, "its simply because none of you has what it takes to be a shinobi. Suddenly Kakashi disappeared and was now sitting on Sasuke with his foot pressing down on Sasuke's head. "You three are just spoiled brat".

"Don't step in Sasuke!" Sakura yelled. "Get off him!". Kakashi just rolled his eyes at Sakura's yelling. She wouldn't have been this serious or angry with him if it were Naruto in Sasuke's position. She only cared for her crush and that was a liability.

"You three are an embarrassment to shinobi" Kakashi said with a leveled glare towards Naruto and Sakura. Your behavior is disgraceful to what it means to be shinobi. Did you even wonder why you were divided into teams of three?"

"Huh…excuse me?" asked a confused Sakura. What was their sensei trying to say? She didn't understand.

*sigh* "Obviously not" Kakashi said, "so you missed the entire point of this exercise".

"It had a point?" Naruto asked.

"Of course" Kakashi said like it was obvious. He was beginning to lose hope, these three only thought about themselves. "It was to determined whether you would pass or not".

"But you never explained what it was!" Sakura argued.

"I don't believe this"

"Tell us already!" Naruto yelled.

"Teamwork! If the three you have attacked me…together…you might have got the bells"

"If you expected us to work as a team then why only have two bells?" Sakura asked. Kakashi's words didn't make sense to her. "Even if we had worked together, one of us still would have lost. You're preaching teamwork but you pinned us against each other!"

"Of course. This was to create distrust and self-preservation between you three. This situation was to see which one of you would set aside your personal interests and put the team before yourself. Instead…you, Sakura, did nothing to help Naruto when he was right in front of you. You were so focused about Sasuke but you didn't even know where he was. Your desire to help him wasn't about teamwork but for youself". Sakura looked down in shame. "Naruto, you tried to do everything by yourself", Naruto just gave an angry pout at Kakashi, "and Sasuke, in his arrogance decided that you guys were just a hindrance and he was better off going solo". Sasuke glared up at Kakashi from his position his words had pissed him off. "The only teamwork I saw was between Naruto and Masashi, and he isn't even on our team. After Masashi left Naruto didn't even try teaming up with either of you two".

"Teamwork is essential for shinobi. Only working for the individual is bad for the team and leaves your team in danger. Where this a real mission you all would have died alone and failed the mission. Here is an example…" Kakashi said as he placed a kunai to Sasuke's neck, "Sakura kill Naruto or Sauke dies!".

"What?!"

"The day may come…" Kakashi said as he got off of Sasuke, "members of your team may be taken hostage and your forced to make a choice. Sakura, you couldn't even decide and your ability to not make a quick decision could lean to not only your teammate's death but yours as well".

"This marker…" Kakashi said has he walked towards the stone in front of them, "has the names of heroes of our village carved on it. Ninja". Kakashi was interrupted by Naruto's declaration that he wouldn't throw his life away and that he would get his named carved on the stone. "…but this stone has the names of special heroes".

"Really? What kind of heroes are they" Naruto asked excitedly. "Come on tell me!".

Kakashi looked at Naruto with a tired expression. "The ones who made the ultimate sacrifice…their lives". Naruto's excited demeanor disappeared as he realized his mistake. "This is a memorial…that includes the names of my best friends".

"Pay attention!" Kakashi said as he turned his gaze on the three teens, "I'm giving you all one last chance. It will be more difficult than earlier. If you wish to continue, eat you food but don't feed Naruto. He goes hungry it's his punishment for trying to eat the food himself. If either of you try to feed Naruto you fail. My word is law. Understand?". Kakashi then used a shunshin to leave the three to their lunch.

After a few minutes of eating Sasuke brought his food near Naruto and offered some food to him. "Sasuke-kun! What are you doing you heard sensei" Sakura said as she saw what he was doing.

"He's gone. We all need our strength if we're going to get those bells". Sasuke turned to Naruto, "You're no good to me if you're a liability". Sakura then offered her lunch to Naruto. Naruto has this happy feeling swell inside him but it soon disappeared as Kakashi appeared in front of them with a glare.

"You all…" he began with a serious voice then turned into an eye smile, "pass!".

"What?!" both Naruto and Sakura yelled while Sasuke did his usual brooding expression.

"Up till now you guys have followed my orders like mindless, little drones. On a mission you can't always follow an order given to you, you need to make your own decisions when something doesn't go according to plan. A true shinobi looks underneath the underneath. In a ninja's world those who violate the rules and fail to follow orders are lower than garbage. However, those who don't care or abandon their comrades are worst than trash!"

"This exercise is now concluded. You all pass!" Kakashi said happily. "Tomorrow we will start our official team seven 7 duties".

"Yes…yes…I'm a ninja now!" Naruto cheered.

"Okay…well let's go home," Kakashi said as he walked out of the training ground with Sakura and Sasuke.

"Hey you forgot to untie me!" Naruto yelled from his still tied up position on the post.

**oOo**

**Earlier with Keiko and Akira**

"Do you see her yet, onee-chan?" Akira asked as they made their way through the trees looking for their sensei. It had already been 15 minutes and she was nowhere to be seen.

"Why do you do that?" Keiko asked annoyed.

"Do what?" her sister asked innocently.

"Huh…why do you call me 'onee-chan' when you're the one who's older," Keiko asked.

"Because you act like an older sister, silly," Akia anwered happily, "You're always the best in studies, you lecture me when I do stuff you don't like, you cook and clean, and you act all serious and stuff most of the time".

"Yeah…well someone has to be the responsible one while mom is away" Keiko said while poking Akira in the cheek.

"Mou. Don't do that I'm not a kid anymore," Akira said as she puffed out he cheeks.

"Aw that's cute," said a voice. Akira and Keiko stopped and looked around for the owner of the voice. Once they turned around they knew who it was…Minori. She was sitting on a branch swinging her feet back and forth, looking down on them. "You two are pretty close aren't you?"

Akira smiled and waved at Minori. "Hi sensei! We were looking for you".

"Oh, have you now?" Minori asked while chuckling. Akira seemed to be a cheerful person; she would be an interesting part of the team. Her sister on the other hand seemed to be a little serious.

"Akira," Keiko said looking towards her sister, "you know what to do". Akira launched kunai towards Minori's position. Minori just dogged them by leaning back and flipping off the branch. She landed on the ground below without any effort but had to quickly dodge a strike from Keiko. Minori took out her kunai and parried the attacks that Keiko attempted with her kunai. As she dodged another strike from Keiko she had to duck from the kunai that flew by courtesy of Akira. The kunai were able to cut off a few stands of hair.

'_Good teamwork, maybe I should of tied up my hair today'_ thought Minori as she jumped over Keiko and landed a kick to her back. She then threw a kunai towards the advancing Akira. Akira quickly jumped back and landed next to her sister. They both charged Minori with multiple punches and kicks but to no avail. Minori was able to block or dodge all their attacks. As she dodged another attack she was surprised to notice a trap. _'Ninja wire? When did they do that? This is getting more interesting but I should end it now'._ Minori quickly slipped under their feet and attacked Akira's neck, affectively knocking her out. She then quickly maneuvered herself around Keiko and grabbed her, placing a kunai to her neck.

"Good try you two but its over," she said as she knocked her out. She carefully set Keiko down and was surprised to see her holding one of the special kunai. 'Wow, I should give them more credit,' Minori thought as she picked up the kunai and put it back on her belt.

**oOo**

**With Yami**

Yami sat in a tree waiting for her sensei. She sat with her eyes closed to try to better hear and smell for Minori. Yami had better hearing and smell than most people and she used it to her advantage._ 'Maybe I should look for the others? Masashi…he seems better trained than when he was the academy. Maybe I can become his friend? No…who would waste their time with me?'_

Yami was then pulled from her thoughts as she felt something on her chest. She looked down to see a pair of hands groping her breast. "Oooh…Yami-chan you have pretty nice size," said the voice she recognized as her sensei. She quickly jumped to a nearby tree to escape her sensei's hold.

"Wh-What do you think you're doing?!" Yami asked her sensei with a light blush on her cheeks. "You can't do that to your student! Its…its not right!".

Minori just smiled. "Oh is Yami-chan a prude?" she asked amused. "Oh what a shame…I would have loved to spend some time with you in the hot springs". It seems that Hatake Minori was a slight pervert…or maybe sadist.

"I-Im not a prude! I'm too young to think about those things!" said the flustered Yami. Normally she was calm and level headed but when Minori groped her she couldn't help be embarrassed. She was the first person to touch her like that.

"Hahaha…but you know what they say: "Old enough to kill, old enough…" well you know…do all the ecchi stuff," Minori said before her expression became serious. "Well all fun aside…lets get started".

Yami got into a stance and prepared herself for Minori. Minori jumped towards to Yami delivering a kick which Yami was able to block. Yami then tried to counter by pushing Minori's foot away from her and trying to cut her sensei with a kunai but Minori was too fast and was able to dodge the strike. 'Dammit so close' Yami thought as she jumped over her sensei. Yami dashed towards her sensei intending on attacking her back when her sensei disappeared.

A few seconds later, Yami was met with the sight of three Minori. "Let see if the academy has taught you anything," one Minori said. Yami threw some shuiriken at one and attacked another with a series of slashed with her kunai and kicks. This continued for a few minutes before the third Minori appeared behind Yami before Yami jumped away from the three Minori before realizing something. _'Stupid Yami…it's a genjutsu!_' she thought as dispelled the illusion. Yami quickly assessed her surroundings looking for her sensei but it was too late as she felt a kick from her side sent he flying.

**With Masashi**

Masashi was currently looking for his teammates after his little battle with Kakashi but the only problem…he couldn't find them anywhere! He had been was searching for around three hours now. It was like his teammates were avoiding him…or maybe he just had a horrible sense of direction.

Masashi was about try a different direction when something hit him, sending him into a nearby tree. _'What the hell?'_ Masashi thought as he tried to regain his bearings to see what hit him. He looked at the thing that hit him. "Yami?" he asked confused.

Yami groaned as she saw Masashi. "Hey…sorry about that," she said offering him a hand, "Minori sensei packs a pretty powerful kick".

'_Minori-sensei was able to kick Yami so hard that it sends her flying and continue to fly once hitting me? Umm…maybe I should fight Kakashi-sensei again, he didn't seem to be able to do that'._ Masashi accepted Yami's hand and pulled himself up. "That's okay?" Masashi replied not sure how to answer her explanation.

"Oh…Masashi-kun, nice to see you here. I guess I'll have to fight both of you," Minori said as she landed on a nearby tree branch. "What happened to your face?"

Minori asked as she noticed Masashi's bruised cheek.

"Kakashi-sensei threw me into a tree," Masashi explained as her rubbed his cheek.

"Why were you facing Kaka-nii?" she asked confused, "You're not even part of his team?"

"I was trying to help Naruto but it didn't do much. He beat us with little effort. He was even reading a book. What's so good about that book for him to fight while reading it?" Masashi was a little irked by that but he was also interested about the book that had Kakashi's attention.

Minori just sighed, "Take my word for it, it's not that interesting". Minori didn't want her stupid brother corrupting her team…she would do that if she wanted to. "Okay lets get back on track. You two haven't got any of the required things to pass".

"Yami," Masashi said turning to Yami, "we have to work together to pass, okay?"

"Got it but I want to be the one that cuts her". She wanted to get back at Minori for groping her.

"Okay, I'll go in fist and you back me up," Masashi instructed as he shot towards Minori. Minori dodged a punch from Masashi and quickly grab his arm and threw him. Masashi was able to land on his feet before dodging a kick to his head. Minori had to then pull back to avoid a kunai from Yami.

Yami jumped at Minori trying to kick her as she reached for one of the kunai. However, Minori was prepared and swatted the offending limb away before quickly getting behind Yami and holding her with a kunai at her neck. "Ah ah ah…don't struggle Yami-chan. You wouldn't want Masashi-kun to know about our little encounter earlier, would you?" Minori whispered into Yami's ear. Yami stopped struggling and was left with a small blush. She couldn't let Masashi know of what their sensei did to her…it was embarrassing.

Masashi stopped to assess the situation and was confused to see Yami's face go red. "Yami are you okay? You're not sick are you?" he asked. Minori smirked at her genin's naivety.

"Ah…um…no I'm okay. It was just a cold breeze".

"Well I should end this soon. I have to meet up with some friends later," Minori announced. Minori then proceeded to knockout Yami then appeared in front of Masashi and punched him in the face knocking him out. The last thing Masashi saw before blacking out was his sensei smiling down at him.

**Clearing in the woods**

Masashi awoke to talking and to glaring light. As he sat up and assessed his surroundings, he was sitting in the middle of a clearing within the woods. He saw Yami, Akira, and Keiko sitting at the base of a tree talking. His sensei was sitting above them in a tree, looking amused from whatever the girls were talking about. All their belongings were also here, piled up next to the tree. _'I guess we failed then,'_ Masashi thought sadly.

Akira paused from the conversation and looked towards Masashi. Upon seeing him awake she jumped up and made her way towards him. "Your awake! How are you feeling Masashi-kun?"

"Good I guess just my face is a little sore," he said while looking at his sensei. Minori just laughed sheepishly.

"Masashi you okay?" Yami asked as she walked up to Masashi and Akira. She felt she needed to see if he was okay after all they were partners against Minori.

"Yeah I'm all good. Don't worry Yami," Masashi assured with a smile.

Minori jumped down from her perch gaining everyones' attention. "So…despite you guys not meeting my requirements I have decided you guys pass," everyone looked at her surprised, "You guys were able to cuts some of my hair and one of you was able to get a kunai even though it was only for a moment. You also showed good teamwork, though I preferred you guys to all work together". Minori pulled out the three kunai for the exercise along with another one from her side poch. "In honor of officially becoming team 11 these kunai are for you," Minori said as she passed her genin one of the kunai. "Tomorrow, we will begin our first missions tomorrow. But for now lets get something to eat, I never made lunch for you guys," Minori said sheepishly. Everyone else just sweatdropped at her statement. They looked at each other and concluded that their sensei was…lazy. Everyone just picked up their things and followed Minori as she led them back to the village.

**oOo**

**Café Somewhere In The Village**

Minori had lead them around the village for a good 20 minutes and they were now standing at the entrance of the café. As everyone began to enter, Yami looked back at Masashi who was looking at the establishment with uncertainty. He wasn't allowed at many of the establishments around Konoha and the ones that did mostly overcharged him or gave them poor products. He would usually use a henge to go into places he wasn't normally allowed and to avoid being ripped-off but he couldn't do that with his team. They would think something was up and he didn't want them involved in his problems.

"You okay Masashi?" Yami asked slightly worried. When she looked at Masashi's face she saw a conflict of emotions; uncertainty, want, and…fear? She wanted to make sure one of her new friends was okay.

"Errr…yeah I'm fine. I'm just not hungry, I ate in the morning so I don't really feel up for lunch," Masashi replied trying to find a way out of eating here. "I'll just head home and see you guys tomorrow".

"Oh no you don't," Minori said grabbing him by his collar. "I wanted to eat lunch with you guys so I can get to know you better so you're not going anywhere. And if anyone has a problem with you eating here then they deal with me".

Masashi looked at his sensei in surprise and gave a grateful nod. "Okay, I'll eat with you guys".

Akira cheered and grabbed Masashi's arm and dragged him into the café. Keiko just signed at her sister's antics. Masashi didn't say a word as they sat down because he was sporting a light blush. Why you may ask? Well because Akira who had attached herself to Masashi's arm and was now pressing her womanly assets against Masashi. "You okay Masashi-kun?" she asked playfully, "You seem a little red, you don't need me to perform CPR do you?"

"Umm…no. It's just that…could you lighten your grip on my arm?" he asked embarrassed. He didn't want to tell her off, in fear of hurting her feelings, so he decided the next best thing that would at least feel comfortable.

Akira was about to say something playful towards Masashi until she was lightly kicked in her shins courteous of Keiko. Keiko gave her an annoyed look, "Stop messing around. We're supposed to get to know EVEYONE over lunch. Behave."

"Roger, Onee-sama," Akira said giving a mock salute. Everyone chuckled at the scene of the two sisters' interaction with one another.

Minori decided to make idle chitchat with team and turned to Yami. "So Yami, I heard you transferred into the academy awhile ago. Where are you from?"

"I'm from as small village near the border of the Land of Rivers," Yami said seemingly more interested in the menu in front of her.

"Oh, I heard its nice in the spring over there," Minori said with a thoughtful look.

"Yeah, it's a pretty beautiful in some places but its pretty cold in the winter".

"So what made you want to be a shinobi?" Minori asked as she flipped through the menu.

Yami paused for a moment then began to talk, "I wanted to get out from my village and my parents wanted me to be a shinobi". Minori raised a brow at Yami's paused but just nodded to her answer.

Minori turned to Inoue sisters to see what to ask them. She watched as they ordered their food and interacted with one another. They seemed to be polar opposite but got along well. "So Akira, Keiko why did the daughters of the great Inoue Tóu come to Konoha instead of stay in the capital?"

Keiko was the one to speak up, "Our mother thought it would be good training since she's busy running the daimyo's security. She also it would be a learning experience".

"Don't forget she said you needed to make friends, Keiko-neechan," Akira added with a grin.

Keiko lightly glared at her sister, "She said _we_ needed to make friends".

"But I didn't have any problems making friends back at the capital…you did. Plus, you were always stuck inside studying," Akira fired back trying to destroy her sisters argument.

"Yeah, whatever, Keiko said annoyed. She then noticed Masashi raising his hand and decided to see what he wanted to ask. "Yes, Masashi?" she asked amused at his hand raising.

"Minori-sensei called your mother the Great Inoue Tóu, is she famous?" Masashi asked curious.

Keiko was about to respond the question when her sister beat her to it. "Yup! Kaa-chan was once part of the Twelve Guardian Ninja. They protected the daimyo but they were disbanded ten years ago beacause…" Akira thought trying to remember what happened.

"…the members split up and some died," Keiko said deciding to help her sister. Keiko then adopted a small frown.

"What's wrong?" Masashi asked as he noticed Keiko's frown.

"Our…farther died from the conflict between the two sides of Twelve Gauardian Ninja," she said hesitantly. "We were only three and we don't remember him but our mother said we got our looks from him". Keiko lightly smiled as she talked about how they got their looks from their dad.

"Yeah, but Kaa-chan said he died a hero and also that he saved her from death but we don't know all the details," Akira said a little sad.

"Sorry for asking," Masashi said a little guilty, "I didn't mean to pry". Making them talk about the dad they never knew made him feel like an ass.

"Its fine Masashi-kun, we're teammates and we want to get to know each other," Akira said with a smile.

Minori looked on with a smile as she ate her parfait and looked on to her team getting along. She believed they would become good friends. She then turned to the last member of her team that she hadn't talk to yet. "Masashi," Masashi looked towards Minori as he ate the gyoza he ordered, "…I noticed you had chakra blades. Why didn't you use them during our exercise?"

"Oh…I don't really have any practice with them," Masashi explained, "I got it as a gift on the day of the exams from Asuma-nii".

"You know Asuma-nii?" Minori asked. She wasn't informed they knew each other.

"A little bit I guess," Masashi said, "I bumped into him on the day of the exams and he gave the chakra blades to me. We talk with each only a few times".

"You know the sash on his waist?" Minori asked. Masashi nodded briefly remembered the sash with the kanji for _'fire'_ on it. "Well, that's from when he was in the Twelve Guardian Ninja. He worked with Akira and Keiko's mother".

Minori words caught the attention of Akira and Keiko. Maybe they could find out what happened to their father through him. Masashi was surprised, he never knew Asuma was so cool. "Wow, does that mean he's one of the strongest ninja in the village?" Masashi asked.

"Yup!" Minori replied, "Probably among the top 20 shinobi of the village".

Yami decided to ask their sensei something since they didn't really talk about her yet. "Minori-sensei you and Kakashi-sensei are siblings right? So how old are you, because you two don't seem to look around the same age".

"Oh were not. Kakashi-nii is 26 and I'm 18," Minori replied. Their parents had Kakashi when their mom was 18 years old and took six years to have her. "I actually just became a jonin four months ago".

"So that's why you look young!" Akira concluded. Minori sweatdropped, did she expect her to be old? She was still a beautiful, young maiden. Minori was brought out of her thoughts when she noticed Akira eating her parfait.

"Hey!" Minori protested only to be met with a laugh.

**oOo**

After an joyful lunch filled with food and chit chat team 11 decided to head their own ways. Minori went to meet with her friends, Akira and Keiko said they needed to head to the market for errands, and Masashi and Yami decided to head home. Surprisingly, they lived in the same direction.

"So Yami we should hangout sometime," Masashi said as the walked down a street. "Since were friends we should do fun things together". Masashi thought this was a great time to make a friend. Sure, he hungout with some of the students back in the academy but he wanted to make a friends that he could talk to about personal stuff and still have fun with. Not, that he couldn't do that with Naruto but Naruto knew him all his life so Masashi wanted a fresh set of eyes so to speak on subjects. Plus, he thought Yami would be a good person for him to start interacting with girls.

"You…you consider me a friend," Yami asked surprised. She hadn't thought they were friends yet. They only had in total less than three days of interaction with each other.

"Of course, why do you not consider us friends?" Masashi asked confused and a slight amount of fear. He didn't want to mess up his relationship with Yami so soon.

"N-No, its not that its just that I didn't think you thought of me as a friend so soon," Yami explained. "I'm glad you see me as a friend, Masashi," she said with a light smile.

"Yeah me too!" Masashi said happily. He stopped as they hit an intersection. "Well Yami, my apartment is over there," he said pointing to a building on the right, "How about you?"

"I actually live a little down this street," Yami said pointing to the street on the left. "We should meet here tomorrow before heading to the training field," she offered.

"Yeah we should," Masashi agreed, "how about around 7:30? I'm not really a morning person but once I'm up I'm up and that's around the time I get up".

"Okay," Yami said, "but if your not here by then I'm gonna find you". She didn't like to wait when she arrived on time. So, when their senseis showed up hours late earlier she was ticked off.

"Gotcha' " Masashi said as he started walking backwards towards his apartment, "see you later". They waved goodbye to each other and headed home. Tomorrow would start a whole new life for them.

As Masashi was making his way to his apartment he stopped. _'Hmmm…I wonder how Naruto did? I hope he did okay. Ah, I have nothing to worry about he's to suborn to fail…I think. I guess I'll find out tomorrow,'_ Masashi thought before proceeding into his apartment.

**oOo**

**Training Ground 7**

"Ahhhhhhh…someone let me go!" yelled to the voice of one Uzumaki Naruto. He had been tied to a post for over four hours now and had no progress in escaping the unbreakable ropes. Naruto started crying crocodile tears as his syomach grumbled, "Please, I need some ramen! I'm gonna die without it!"

Naruto would remain there until Kakashi returned two hours later to retrieve his clock. Kakashi had forgotten all about him that after grabbing his clock he started heading home. Naruto's angry shouts were the only thing that made him remember Naruto's situation. Kakashi's only response was he was coming right back to release him but a green monster attacked him and kept him busy for awhile. Hmm…like Naruto was gonna fall for a stupid excuse like that.


	6. First Official Day as Shinobi!

**AN: Wow, I been lazy about continuing this story. Lots of things lately like school, family, and personal life (and laziness). It's been a year since I updated but I haven't given up. I know what I'm gonna write and I'll try working on this more often.**

**Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does but I do own my own OCs.**

**Konoha**

Somewhere in the early morning of the Village in the Leaves, we find ourselves within the apartment of a newly fledge genin. Said person was still asleep enjoying a peaceful rest. The young shinobi eyes slowly crept open a few minutes later. She stretched her arms as she mover her feet over the edge of the bed. She rose and yawned as she rose and walked towards the bathroom.

She slowly walked to the toilet and pulled down her shorts and panty to do her business. As she sat on her toilet she looked towards the small window that was placed above her shower._ 'Still dark'_, she thought. After she had finished her _business _she rose and took off her tank top and proceeded to put her clothes next to the sink.

She walked into her shower and turned on the shower. The young teen let the cold water cascade down her skin. As the water heated up the teen began to get lost in thought. _'First day as an official shinobi'_, she thought, _'My team seems nice enough, hopefully we can work well together and maybe become friends'. _As she began to soap her body the teen wondered what her team's first mission was gonna be. _'Probably something easy like delivering something', _she thought.

The teen turns off the water and steps out of the shower. She reaches for her towel and dries herself off. She picked up her clothes next to the sink and headed back to the bedroom. She threw her clothes on her bed and walked towards her closet. She looked at her reflection in the mirror; long purple hair that fell to her mid-back, amber eyes, and her slender frame. _'Am I pretty?',_ she thought as the small insecurity came into her mind. She shook her head of those thoughts and turned to more positive thoughts. '_Okay Yami, are you ready for today? Your life changes today!'_. Yami smiled then proceeded to get changed.

After changing, Yami looked at her clock. _'Hmmm…six o'clock. I still have some time 'till I meet up with Masashi'._ Yami headed to the kitchen to find something to eat.

**7:30**

Yami reached the meeting spot that she had agreed on with Masashi but he was nowhere to be found. She decided to wait for a little bit to see if he was just running late before she would go find him.

**Masashi's Apartment**

We find the only male member of Team 11 lying in his bed still sound asleep (with a little bit of drool coming out of his mouth).

**With Yami**

She had been standing here for fifteen minutes already and no sign of her teammate. "Guess I got to find him", Yami said to herself. She headed off towards where Masashi said he lived.

oOo

Yami reached the building Masashi said he lived in but there was one problem…she didn't know which apartment was his. She decided to ask some people if they knew where he lived. They would stop when she asked if they could help but after she asked if they knew where Masashi lived they would either walk away from her, glare at her before rushing off, or told her she should stay away from him. She had no idea these people didn't seem to like Masashi. Was it because he helped Naruto with many of his pranks?

Yami was about to leave and wait at the training ground but then she spotted Naruto sleepily coming down the stairs of the building. She rushed to Naruto,"Hey Naruto!", she called.

Naruto was awoken from his sleepy walk to see Yami. "Hey Yami. *yawn* What are you doing here?", he curiously asked.

"Oh I was supposed to meet up with Masashi so we could head to the training ground together", she explained, "but he didn't show up so I thought you could tell which apartment is him so I can get him".

"Oh okay. Our apartments are on the top floor. His is the one on the right once you reach the top", Naruto said before beginning to sleepily walk away, "See ya at the traing ground, I'm gonna get some ramen".

"Okay thanks Naruto", Yami said before heading up the stairs. Once at the top Yami took a right like Naruto told her and ended in front of the door of Masashi's apartment. Yami proceeded to knock on the door…no answer. She did it again…no answer. Yami concluded that he was still asleep. She needed to get in somehow to wake him up. Maybe there was a spare key somewhere. She checked under the rug, in the porch light, in the potted plan next to the door, and behind the nameplate…nothing. Yami topped to think where to look for a spare key. _'I'm pretty sure he's still here and most people with apartments I would think have a spare key'_, she thought. Yami then noticed the pipes that ran up along the wall next to the door. '_Hmmm…_', she thought. Yami stuck her hand behind the pipes and reached around and sure enough the found a key.

"Pretty smart hiding place", she said to herself. Most people would have never thought to look there. Yami put the key into the keyhole and turned the key. Opening the door she entered and closed the door behind her. "Hello? ...Masashi are you awake?", she called out. Yami began walking past the small living room towards the hallway. She walked to the door at the end of the hallway and turned the knob.

Opening the door and looking around Yami could confirm this was the bedroom. The curtains were still closed so it was still dark in the room but it didn't have a problem with it. Yami could from as long as she could remember see well in the dark. She looked to the left to see Masashi still in his bed. He was lightly breathing in his sleep as a little bit of drool escaped his mouth. Yami giggled (something she rarely did) thinking it was cute. Yami began to shake Masashi but he wouldn't wake. Seeing that shaking wasn't working Yami pulled open the curtains and pulled off Masashi's sheet.

With the sunlight shining into the room and the warmth of the blanket gone Masashi began to stir. Slowly opening his eyes Masashi looked around only to see Yami next to his bed smiling. "Yami?", he asked, What are you doing here?".

"Well…since you never showed up at our meeting place I decided to get you", she explained. "I didn't actually know which apartment was yours but thankfully I ran into Naruto who told me".

Masashi turned to his clock and it read 7:45. "Oh crap, sorry Yami. I guess I forgot to set my alarm", Masashi said as he scratched the back of his head. "Well if it makes you feel any better it probably wont matter if we aren't there by 8. I mean if yesterday was anything to go buy then Kakashi-sensei and Minori-sensei will be late. So we have a lot of time to…". Masashi stopped talking when it appeared she wasn't listening.

While Masashi was talking Yami realized he was shirtless. It wasn't him being shirtless that drew her attention (though she did think he looked quite fit) but it was the scars that lined Masashi's chest and shoulders. What happened to him and how could he have gotten all those scars she thought to herself.

Masashi realized what Yami was looking at and quickly stood up. "Um…I need to get ready do you mind if you wait in the living room as I get ready?"

"Sure…", replied Yami as she realized she was staring, "I'll make you something for you to eat".

"Thanks", Masashi said as Yami left the room.

**Masashi's Kitchen**

Yami was shocked to see the scaring that her teammate had. How could someone so young have that many scars? Was he in an accident when he was younger? Yami changed her thoughts to more positive ones as she went to the fridge to see what she could make Masashi.

**Bathroom**

As Masashi was taking a shower he was freaking out. '_She saw them! She saw them! What if she starts avoiding me?_'. Masashi tried to look to more positive thoughts, '_Yami is nice she wont do that to me. She probably just thinks I was in an accident. Yeah. Yeah. She didn't see my back so she couldn't have seen that one. So she can't know how I got these_'.

Masashi got out of the shower and headed to his room to get changed. As he was getting dressed Masashi was reassuring himself that Yami was too nice to start avoiding him. As he finished getting ready he looked at the bedroom door. '_Well here goes nothing_', he thought before opening the door and heading towards the kitchen.

As Masashi entered the dining area of his apartment he was assaulted by the smell of the food that Yami had prepared. Masashi came to the sight of Yami setting the table up for them to eat. He observed that she had prepared some riced topped with a fried egg and two sausages, a small bowl of miso soup, and a glass of milk. _'It smells good'_, Masashi thought as he walked to the table.

As Masashi sat down at the table Yami did so as well. Masashi put his hands together and quietly said, "Itadakimasu" and Yami followed suit right after. Masashi had been quiet since he arrived and Yami was beginning to think something was bothering him. Yami decided to try to get Masashi to talk. "Hey Masashi?", Yami asked getting his attention.

Masashi looked up from the food he was quietly eating, hoping to avoid talking about his scars. "What's up?", he asked nervously.

"How do you like the food?", Yami asked hoping to get him to relaxed a little.

"Its good thanks", he said with a smile, "I don't usually eat miso soup in the morning but I like it". Masashi not wanting to be rude continued the conversation. "You're a pretty good cook. Did you make these sausages yourself?".

"Thanks" Yami said smiling. She was happy that he was at least talking to her. "I made the sausages out of the ground beef in the fridge and the herbs and spices in the cabinet. It's not like the ones you buy in the store but I think I did pretty well with the time I had".

"It might not look like them but they taste pretty great", Masashi complimented.

"Thanks Masashi", Yami replied. Thinking that her seeing his scars might have been a problem decided to try and fix the awkward atmosphere. "Hey Masashi about the scars…", she noticed Masashi tense as she brought it up, "It's your business and I don't want to know about it unless you tell me. Seeing those scars has not changed my view on you. I have to get to know you before I get to make conclusion".

Masashi's eyes widened at her statement. She didn't care. She didn't care about the scars. She was willing to wait and gain his trust before he told him about them. "Thank Yami", he said with a genuine smile.

"No problem", Yami said happy that she was able to fix the awkward atmosphere. "Lets finish our food then we can head to the training ground".

"Right". Then something came to Masashi. "Hey Yami? Did you not eat earlier?" he asked wondering if she was one of those girls that went on diets or if she just forgot.

"Uh…no I ate earlier", she explained, "Its just that I can eat a good amount of food"

"Oh thank Kami, I thought you forgot or was one of those girls in class that go on diets" truthfully revealed.

Yami gave a small laugh, that Masashi thought was light and cute, and said, "No I'm not on a diet. I don't need to anyways since I train. I just thought you might like someone to eat with".

Masashi's lightly blushed, wondering why he felt embarrassed, and said "Thanks". After they had finished eating, the duo headed down to the streets. Before heading off to the training ground Yami asked if they could stop by a shop first which Masashi agreed to.

**oOo**

After a few minutes of small talk and walking, they had reached their destination, an iron smith shop that sold things from home appliances, farming tools, and shinobi gear. Masashi stopped and noticed it was a shop that he and Naruto weren't allowed in.

Yami turned to Masashi noticing he had stopped. "What's wrong?", she asked.

"Nothing really", Masashi replied before doing the Sexy Transformation Jutsu. Masashi rarely used the technique Naruto created especially since people connected it to Naruto being a pervert, but he only used it when he needed to shop and not get overpriced or if he needed to get away from some perverted men. Naruto thought also used it to prank people but they all knew it was Naruto because he never changed his trademark jumpsuit.

Yami looked at him questionably before Masashi telling her that the owner didn't like him because of a prank Naruto and he played on the owner's store. It wasn't a lie either because the two Uzumakis did prank his store, which pissed him off but gave the two boys a good laugh. Yami nodded and entered the store followed by Mayumi, the female name of Masashi's female form.

Yami went straight to the counter and was greeted by an old man. "Ah, Yami. What can I do for this beautiful young shinobi?" the man asked with a smile.

"Thanks ojis-san",Yami said with a smile. "I officially passed my exams so I was wondering if you finished my order yet?". Mayumi wondered what Yami could of ordered; a weapon, new clothes, or something commemorating that she passed the exams? The old man came out with a small box and handed it to Yami.

"I hope you like it," he said with a smile, "I think I did pretty well on this if I do say so myself".

Yami opened a box and took out, what Mayumi assumed was a collar type necklace. It was just a black leather collar with a cloth padding in the inside and a metal pendent shaped like a flame attached to center bearing the symbol of Konoha. Yami turned to Mayumi, "Hey Mayumi could you help me put this on?". A little stunned, Mayumi just nodded as Yami turned around and lifted her hair. Mayumi nervously picked up the collar necklace thing and clipped it around Yami's neck. Once Mayumi had finished, Yami turned around, "Thanks Mayumi", she said happily. Mayumi just nodded embarrassed at what he did. He would have thought that girls had their boyfriends or friends that were girls do that.

After the Mayumi had put the collar necklace thing on Yami, the old man had finally noticed Mayumi. "Well hello there", he greeted, "Are you a friend of Yami's?".

"Yes sir", Mayumi politely greeted, "I'm just spending time with Yami before she needs to head to her ninja training".

"Well it good to she has made a friend!", the old man said happily, "I was beginning to believe she didn't have any friends. She's always coming in for supplies and when I tell her she needs to hangout with friends she tells me she hasn't made any yet".

"Mou. That's not very nice Yami-chan!", Mayumi whined at Yami in a cute tone. "Are you embarrassed of me?".

Yami was unprepared for this, she didn't expext Masashi would be able to act like a cute civilian girl. "Umm…n-no its not like that", she stuttered, "Its just that…uh I just that I don't really think about telling someone I have a friend while shopping here". _'Phew, thank Kami I was able to come up with something quickly. Where the hell did Masashi learn how to act like that?'_.

"Yay!", Mayumi cheered and then proceeded to hug Yami. "You do love me!". The old man just chuckled at the girls' interaction with one another.

"Okay, okay you can stop with the hugging", Yami said. She then looked at the old man, "We have to get going now oji-san", she said as she dragged Mayumi out of the store.

"Bye!", Mayumi said cheerfully as she was dragged outside. The old man chuckled and waved good-bye to the two girls.

**oOo**

After a few blocks of Yami dragging Mayumi the two girls stopped at a nearby park. "Why did you do that Masashi, that was embarrassing", Yami asked Mayumi.

Mayumi giggled. "Sorry about that", Mayumi said before dispelling the jutsu, "I guess I have a different personality while I'm Mayumi, probably from watching shows on TV or watching some of the girls around the village but also because…it was fun!".

"That's fine it was just a little embarrassing", Yami replied not wanting to talk about it any further, "Lets just head to the training ground". Masashi nodded and they began heading towards their destination.

**Earlier With Naruto**

We follow Naruto as he casually makes his way to Ichiraku Ramen for breakfast. Since he didn't get to have breakfast the day before, now he was gonna have a proper breakfast. Ramen. The food of the gods…so Naruto claims.

As Naruto walked to his feast, he began to look back on the events of the previous day. He had officially become a ninja, put on a team with Sakura, and his team would be working Masashi's team. The only downside was that his sensei was a weirdo and he was stuck with the Uchiha bastard. He could deal with his weirdo sensei but he doesn't know how long he could last with the brooder before he strangles him.

Naruto also thought about the team Masashi was placed in. He thought it was weird that Masashi was placed into a five-man team. Not only that but Masashi was the only one on his team that was a male. From what Naruto remembered when teams were being assigned was that all the teams were two guys and one girl, along with the jonin in charge.

Naruto's thoughts stopped as he reached his destination. He smiled as he walked into the stand and sat on a stool. Naruto looked around seeing that no one was manning the front. "Hello? Anyone back there?", Naruto called out.

A head popped out behind the doorway leading to the back revealing it to be Teuchi. "Oh Naruto, good to see you my boy", he said with a smile, "So how was your first day as a shinobi?".

"We were tricked, Oji-san! We had to do another test! But I figured it out and we were able to pass", Naruto began to explained while trying to seem like he saved the day. "I'm pretty sure Masashi passed too", he added.

Teuchi laughed as he listened to Naruto tell his story. "That's great, tell Masashi that me and Ayame say congratulations. So Naruto, you being here I assume you're here for some ramen? Hmm?".

"You betcha oji-san! Can I start off with some miso ramen?".

"Coming right up", Teuchi replied with a smile before heading to the back. It was good to see that Naruto life seemed to improve from when he was younger. The villagers and many of the shinobi, they for some reason blamed the two for the Kyubi attack, and always treated Naruto and Masashi horribly. Teuchi was one of the few who had pity on them. When he saw them he could not see an ounce in evil in their faces.

There was also another reason he treated the boys well. It was because of his wife, who died when Ayame was still young. She was a kind woman who was kind to everyone. If she saw how people treated the boys she would weep. Also, Teuchi felt horrible seeing boys around the same age as Ayame be treated so harshly. They where children and if he ever saw people treat Ayame like that he would have flipped.

**Training Ground 7**

We follow Naruto as he happily pats his belly. He has just finished five bowls of ramen and Teuchi had even given him two bowls on the house! Now he was heading towards the training ground to meet up with his team.

He arrived to see Sasuke leaning against a tree as Sakura animatedly talked to him. Well…talking wasn't really the word for it, more like talking aimlessly while being ignored.

On the other side of the training field Naruto saw Akane enthusiastically talking to Keiko while they sat under a tree. Though Keiko looked a little annoyed from all the talking her sister was doing. Naruto also noticed that Yami and Masashi had yet to arrive along with both teams' jonin instructor.

Deciding to just wait until everyone showed up Naruto headed towards his crush to attempt a conversation and possibly a date! (Which would never happen with Sakura in fangirl mode).

**oOo**

**Two Hour Later**

With the rest of team 11 and their jonin instructors finally arriving the teams headed off to grab some missions. D ranked missions. Naruto was complaining how they could just skip to the bigger missions because he was there but his complaints was quickly snuffed out by Sakura's fist and her excessive yelling.

Through out the day, both teams were able to do many D ranked missions but they discovered these missions were just chores, errands, and small jobs one would expect civilians could accomplish. Doing D ranked missions supposedly helped get them used to working with one another, teach teamwork, and familiarize themselves with how missions worked.

After the teams had completed their missions for the day everyone decided to head on home. Naruto, Masashi, and Yami decided to make their way home as a group.

"Uuuh…", Naruto whined, "This whole day was boring. We didn't do anything cool, just chores".

"Well get used to it", Masashi said, "I heard we do D ranked missions for at least a month before we can get a C ranked one. Plus, if we just started doing those awesome missions you think of we'll probably be dead."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…lets just grab dinner for now".

Masashi grabbed the back of Naruto's jacket before he could go down a street that led down to Ichiraku Ramen. "Oh no you don't. You've been eating too much ramen lately. You need to eat something different once in a while, so we're gonna eat at my place for dinner. I'll cook something that isn't ramen". This earned the complaining of Naruto who Masashi just ignored. Masashi turned to Yami, "You wanna come too?", he asked.

"Sure" and a small smile was her response.

"Okay! Then I'm sending you to get groceries, Naruto!".

"What?! I don't wanna do groceries. I might as well just go get ramen", Naruto responded a little annoyed.

"Oh that's not gonna happen because Yami is gonna keep an eye on you". Masashi turned to Yami, "Can you please watch over this idiot for me?".

"Hey!"

"Hahaha…sure. I'll make sure he doesn't get in trouble."

"Thanks. And Naruto…", he said turning to the blond, "if you need to henge, turn into something that doesn't look like Naruko and use different clothes".

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…you could of told me that a while ago so I wouldn't have to pay so much".

"Whatever, just get going. See you guys at my apartment".

**oOo**

Naruto and Yami made their way to the market district of Kohona while making some idle chitchat.

"So that was you guys who painted the stores around Kohona?", Yami asked amused from the tale Naruto had just told.

"Yeah it was hilarious. A lot of the shop owners were mad though but it was worth it."

"But wasn't there also some cute paintings on some of the stores?", Yami asked remembering some of those.

"Yeah, that was Masashi. He painted chibi versions of the shop owners that he liked on their shops. Most of the stores kept them, if you go to Ichiraku Ramen you can see it on the wall on the side of the shop".

The two stopped before the entrance of the market district. "I need to henge right now so some of the store owners don't notice me. They're still probably angry about my stuff animal prank last month".

Yami nodded understandingly, remember Masashi this morning. "Was that the thing where you replaced the food in the food stalls with stuff animals?".

"Haha yeah", Naruto laughed before using a henge. He changed into blonde haired girl with her hair let down, green eyes, no whisker marks, and wearing a white shirt and jeans. "Okay lets go".

Yami nodded before they continued their way into the market. "So Naruto…", Yami spoke up gaining Naruto's attention, "You're really close to Naruto huh?".

"Yeah, we grew up together. He's like an older brother even though he's only a few months older than me. He's the one that watched out for me, made sure I ate right from time to time, and even helped with my pranks". Yami could see a smile as Naruto as he talked about Masashi.

"Seems like he's very reliable", Yami stated, getting a nod from Naruto. "So if you guys aren't siblings how are you related?".

"I'm not really sure, jiji says that our families are distantly related. But its good knowing that I have a relative to go to".

"Who's jiji?", Yami asked a little confused.

"Oh! Jiji is the Hokage!", Naruto replied with a smile.

"You personally know the Hokage?", Yami asked a little shocked. For two boys who aren't part of any big clans in the village its kinda surprising that he would personally get to know them.

"Yeah, he looked after us after we left the orphanage. He got us places to live, gave us allowances, and regularly checked up on us. Maybe its because we're orphans or because he knew our parents but Masashi and I are grateful for what he has done for us".

"Sounds like you really admire the Hokage?", Yami observed.

"Yeah, both of us do. You know how Masashi wants to be Hokage like I do right?", Naruto asked.

"Yeah".

"Well he doesn't want to be Hokage to be acknowledged like me", Naruto continued as he looked up to the sky as the sun began to set, "He wants to be Hokage so there are no orphans. So children don't have to grow up like us, so there are less incidents that lead to the deaths of parents".

As the two continued walking Yami thought about what Naruto had just said.'_Wow, I never thought that's why they wanted to become Hokage. I thought that they just wanted to be Hokage like kids do when they're young or to just be the strongest. If those are their reasons to become Hokage, I can seeing them becoming great shinobi'_

"We're here!", Naruto announced as they stopped in front of a small store on a less busy street of the market district. As they walked inside, Yami noticed the store consisted mostly of stands with fruits and vegetables and in the back a small fridge, which she assumed carried meats and other produce.

As Naruto finished collecting the groceries he headed towards the counter. He than rang ta bell that was on a post next to the counter.

"Coming", replied an elderly voice. The owner of the voice was revealed as an elderly woman as she walked out of the back room. "Are you ready the pay miss?", she asked Naruto.

"Yup", Naruto said happily as he placed a basket on the counter.

"So, Naruto I assume you and Masashi became shinobi?", the old lady asked. Yami was shocked this women knew that it was Naruto, especially since he was in a henge.

"How did you know baa-chan?", Naruto asked disappointed he was discovered.

"You may have changed clothes and some of your features but you still look like Naruko", she replied with a smile. "Remember not many people in Konoha have blonde hair besides the Yamanakas? Plus, my daughter is a shinobi remember? She used to always try tricking me with her henges. Still does, but I can somehow tell when she or others are using the henge".

"Wow! That's cool", Naruto said fascinated before remembering the woman's earlier question. "Oh, yeah we passed the exams a few days ago. Today was our first official day as shinobi. This…", Naruto began motioning to Yami, "is Yami. She's Masashi's teammate".

The old lady smiled at Yami, "Nice to meet you Yami. I hope you'll try keeping Masashi out of trouble. Both these boys tend to attract trouble".

"Nice to meet you too ma'am", Yami politely replied with a bow, "and I'll try my best to look after Masashi". The woman gave a grateful smile back to the young kunoichi.

"So is this all you're buying?", the old lady asked as she looked over the contents.

"Yup. Masashi wants to cook dinner tonight and wouldn't let me eat ramen".

The woman chuckled, "You know he's just looking after you. Here…", she said as she grabbed two bags of gummies from the back and put them in the bags, "give these to Masashi".

"Okay, thanks baa-chan. We have to head back now to get these to Masashi", Naruto said as he and Yami headed out the door.

"Bye you two, have a good night", the woman said waving as they left.

**oOo**

**Masashi's Apartment**

After a filling dinner made by Masashi, Naruto decided to pass out on the couch. Yami and Masashi were left talking at table in the kitchen.

"Geez…he can be such a child sometimes". Masashi looked towards the couch with a small smile. "But I'm glad that he can relax so freely sometimes".

"You guys grew up together, right?", Yami asked.

"Yeah. We've been together ever since I could remember. From the orphanage to where we are now. We're basically brothers. Hell, we even have the same last name and are supposedly related".

"If you don't mind me asking…", Yami began, "what happened to you're guys' parents".

Masashi sighed. "We don't really know. The Hokage told us Naruto's parents died the night of the Kyubi attack twelve years ago…the night Naruto was born. He said our dads died protecting the village".

"What about your moms?", Yami asked curious.

"Not really sure. We know Naruto was born that night so maybe his mom died during childbirth…or even from the destruction from the attack. But that's all we really know. The Hokage told us he couldn't tell us the identity of our parents unless we made chunin", Naruto looked towards the sky through the window, "That's one reason we decided to be shinobi in the first place. Supposedly, our parents had made enemies during the last war and the Hokage doesn't want us put in any danger until he knows we can protect ourselves".

"What about your mother? You didn't mention her".

"All I know about my mother is that she was a civilian. On the night I was born, she died and my father brought me back to Konoha. The Hokage told me my mother wanted me born at a special place". Yami observed as tears began to fall from Masashi's eyes. "If we stayed here we would have had proper medical care and maybe she wouldn't have died. Or maybe it's my fault and my birth put too much strain on her. I…".

Masashi stopped to realize a pair of arms hugging him. He looked to his left to see Yami hugging him, she must have gotten out of her seat while he was talking. "I'm sorry for bringing your parents up", Naruto looked in her eyes to see she really meant it. "I didn't mean for it to end up like this, I just wanted to know a little more about you guys. Please, forgive me".

"It's *sniffle* alright Yami. You asked and I answered. I just haven't really thought about my parents in a while".

"How about I tell you about my family then," Yami offered.

"You don't really need to do that if you don't want to".

"But I want to, okay?". It seemed Yami wasn't taking 'no' as an answer. "Well there isn't much to really tell. My family is from a village in the Land of Fire called Howaito Village. I have a mom and a dad. I'm not really close to them. They had a lot of expectations for me and I was always stuck in a class or practicing that we never really interacted. Even at home all the talked about how my classes were doing and how I could improve. I got tired of it and tried to run away a few times but in the end I was always brought back.

'Maybe it was because I still loved my parents and my village? So I continued the classes, albeit I didn't take them as seriously anymore. About a year ago, my village thought it would be good for me if I learned to be a shinobi and that's how I got here. They had to make a trade agreement or something with the Hokage to allow me become a shinobi temporarily. They say I will stay here until I'm summoned to the village".

The whole time as Yami told her story, Masashi paid sharp attention. He could tell that Yami's relationship seems more complex than what she explained and that she seemed happier once she got to the part of moving here. "I guess both our family lives isn't so great, huh?", Masashi asked with a weak smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah", Yami said with a smile, "But I'm glad that it turned out that way because I finally made a friend who I feel I can be free around".

"Thanks Yami, I'm glad I met you too. I feel that our adventures together as shinobi will be amazing, especially if Naruto is there to cause a problem". The teens both laughed knowing that Naruto would make their shinobi careers very interesting in the coming future. How right they were.


End file.

Naruto, Adventure, Romance