Secrets

III: Part Two

-Haruno(Namikaze) Sakura

"Uchiha Sasuke!"
"You'll suck." Naruto grumbled.
"Hn."

Sasuke jumped over Naruto and walked down the stairs, his hands shoved into the pockets like always.
Mizo finished his lunch with Mito walking up to Naruto. He rolled his eyes and stuffed the bento container in his bag.

"Hungry?" She questioned.
Naruto looked over and rested on the palms of his hands. "Nope."
Mito invited herself to sit beside him. "How'd you beat Mizo? Our father trains him."
"Your father."
Mito frowned and sighed. "Your acting like a child."
"I'm only 11." Naruto innocently stated. "Plus I couldn't give a damn about that man, he didn't even try to save my mother."
Mito frowned.

She went to speak but Narutos name being called interrupted her. Sasuke slid the door open as Naruto jumped onto the table top before walking down the stairs.
Sasuke and him past each other momentarily but didn't share any look as Sasuke took his seat back beside the window and Naruto closed the door.

Iruka looked up from the papers and smiled. He sat Narutos profile on top of the others as he stood in the middle.

"Make three perfect shadow clones, than we'll see if you have the skill to wear one of these protectors."

A box sat beside the stack of papers. There were white colored cloth protectors, dark blue, black and red.

Naruto closed his eyes and entered the stance every Genin stood in. He concentrated on the shape and details of himself.
A whiff of air blew onto his side. He opened his eyes, just hoping the shadow clone came out fine...
But it was on the ground looking like a dead dummy but with a cloud texture. It disappeared in a cloud of white only seconds later with Iruka looking almost dumbstruck.

He sighed and put the box of protectors on the floor. He looked back at Naruto and stood.

"I'm sorry Naruto but I can't allow you to pass."
"Huh? Wait but I passed the written and taijutsu!" He defended quickly.
Iruka shook his head. "You passed the taijutsu.. but failed the written."
Narutos face dropped. "Y-your kidding right? I studied so hard for that! I actually studied!" Tears piled in the cage of Narutos eyelashes.
"I'm sorry Naruto but I can't allow you to pass." Iruka frowned.

Naruto clenched his fists and rubbed the tears from his eyes.
"Fine! Not like it meant anything anyway."

Naruto slammed the door and everyone in the classroom jumped. Iruka sighed and pressed the failed red stamp on Narutos profile.
Mizuki grew a smirk as they walked out of the room to congratulate the others.

Sasuke though, clenched his hands together. Naruto hadn't passed, that meant he had to stay in this forsaken place longer.

—

Mizuki jumped from the roof and sat beside Naruto on the porches ledge.

"He cares about you ya know." He started.
Naruto tightened the grip around his legs. He rested on his knees but didn't look at his sensei.
"He only failed you so you would be prepared Naruto."
"So what?! I'm more prepared than most of the damned people who did pass!" Naruto snapped.
Mizuki hummed like he was thinking and sighed as if he was defeated.
"There is one way."
Narutos ears flickered at the sound of 'another way' before he looked at the white haired sensei.
"If you can get the forbidden scroll from the Anbu commanders locked office, I'll have Iruka pass you." Mizuki smiled.
Naruto sat straight but than he slouched. "But I don't know where the Anbu Commanders office is."
Mizuki opened his grey eyes. "Yes you do, I know you were once good friends with the Anbu."
Naruto smiled and jumped onto his feet. "Yeah that's right I was! Ok I'll do it and prove to Iruka-sensei I'm more than qualified to be a Genin!"
Mizuki smirked. "Great, meet me at the old shack in the woods after you get the scroll. And if anyone tries to stop you, just know it's only part of the test."
Naruto nodded and jumped off of the porch. Mizuki chuckled. "Stupid child."

"I can't do it! I can't do another year in that place!" Kitty complained.
"Where?" Dog asked.
"The damned academy. I could barely last 4 months! I couldn't do 12 if it meant my life was on the line!"
Weasel chuckled. "Captain I think your overreacting, this is Naruto we're talking about, he'll find someway to pass."
Kitty groaned. "I fucking hope your right. I've never failed a mission but I will if it means being a student for another year."
They all chuckled.

Kitty looked up to see a flash of yellow and sat up.

"Something wrong captain?"
Kitty stared a bit longer before raising a confused eyebrow. "No.. no I thought I had seen something."

The door banged open to show Madara.
"Uzumaki Naruto stool the scroll of forbidden seals."
"What?!"
"I need all of you to find the kid and bring him to me, I don't have a good feeling about this!" Madara ordered.
"Hai hokage-sama!"
Madara shot Kitty a look and he clenched his fists.

Kitty was gone in a split second, ready to find the punk he's supposed to be watching.

Naruto snickered as he jumped from the trees and took the scroll off of his back.

"I'll show Iruka-sensei I'm not just some worthless kid."
"Naruto."

Naruto looked behind him to see Minato and Iruka standing behind him. He smiled.

"Iruka-sensei I did it! Can I pass now?!"
"Naruto what the hell are you talking about? You stool a forbidden scroll!" Iruka lectured.
Naruto looked at him in confusion.
"But Mizuki-sensei-"
"Set you up."

The three looked up a tree to see the notorious Anbu Commander and in second command, Foxy.

"C-commander." Minato breathed.
Foxy jumped down to only stand about Irukas bicep.
"The hokage thought Mizuki would try something like this, I've been watching him but never thought he'd use a student."
Naruto clenched his fists. "All I wanted to do was prove myself!"
"And that's what you'll do."
The adults looked at Foxy confused.
"Minato distract the other shinobi, we need Mizuki to think he'll get away with this, Iruka lecture Naruto like you usually do."
"Hey!" Naruto pouted.
"Naruto you'll need to go along with this. Mizuki needs to think he's gotten away with it.. and if you do this I'll talk to the hokage, we can't let Mizuki get that scroll."

Naruto felt butterflies enter his stomach. He'd be able to help with such a large and important task? And not be treated like a demon?!

"Alright!" He quietly cheered.
Iruka looked down at Foxy. "Will this plan actually work?"
"Of course it will, I'm not the commander for no reason Iruka." Foxy scoffed.

"Naruto!"
Foxy held Kitty back. "Foxy?" Kitty breathed questionably.
"It's a plan Kitty, I can't get into it right now but I need you to trust me."
"Always."
Foxy nodded.
"I need you to go report to hokage-sama that we haven't been able to find Naruto, if you and I can't find him, there's a slim chance anyone else will."
Kitty nodded. "But the scroll."
"I'll put it back in my office, I left it unlocked for a reason." Foxy winked and Kitty sighed.
"Of course you did."
Foxy smiled under his mask and bumped his hip on Kitty's.
"Now go! We don't have all night kitty cat!"
"I thought we talked about that nickname."
"And I chose to ignore you."
Kitty sighed and jumped back into the trees.

"So... you two are like a thing right?"
"Naruto!" Iruka and Minato scolded.
"What?! Tell me I wasn't the only one who watched them!"
Foxy rolled his eyes and pushed his palm against Narutos bare forehead.
"Why the hell are you still standing here? You have a job Minato!"
Minato jumped. "Right!" He vanished in a yellow flash before Foxy could do anything to him.
"Wow.. you even scare lord 4th."
"Of course I do, I was Captain before he retired." Foxy scoffed. "Now, let's get ready for the bastard."