Follow the Sun (Naruto fan-fiction)

Chapter 5: Genin

It has been a fleeting week, and Naruto was bored out of his mind. After all, he knew everything already. So most of the time, he either slept in class, skipped and played pranks around the village, playing tag with elite ANBU teams or placed a shadow clone to take his place in class to train somewhere else. Of course, he didn't forget to drag his two best friends with him. It's no fun to train alone after all. And, by doing so, he could maintain his façade as the dead last in the academy.

That's why, he couldn't help but shout in joy when Iruka-sensei announced the graduation exam.

"It was about time!" Naruto screamed. Shikamaru and Sasuke both smirked with a knowing look while Sakura and other academy students berated Naruto for being so loud and annoying.

"Ha! Idiot! As if you would even pass!" Kiba shouted. Naruto ignored the comment and stuck his tongue out towards Kiba, which angered the Dog boy further. But before Kiba could lash out at him, he was restrained by two arms on both of his shoulders. Kiba turned his head to either side to see who stopped him. It was Sasuke and Shikamaru. The other students were either shocked or confused by their actions.

"Hey, let go! What's your problem?" Kiba shouted, irritated.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on Naruto/don't you dare touch him," both Shikamaru and Sasuke threatened quietly but loud enough for only Kiba to hear, especially with Kiba's heighten senses. Kiba felt cold sweat rolling down his back and shivered. He gulped and inwardly thought,

'Scary...'

"Oi! That's enough, you two!" Naruto cried out and the two grunted, displeased but let go of the Dog boy.

All this while, Iruka was speechless. One, Naruto exuded an aura that screamed power and authority, a contrast to his idiotic and loud personality. Granted, Naruto was being loud just now, but Iruka understood how excited Naruto is about the graduation exam as should all the other students. But the fact that Naruto did a complete turn in persona for a split second was enough to surprise Iruka.

This mean that there is more to Naruto than what meets the eye. As a ninja, Iruka knows that they should look underneath the underneath. Hence, Iruka couldn't help but speculate. Any other ninja would probably brush it off and says that it was a coincidence, but there's the second reason that made Iruka thought as such and that is Shikamaru and Sasuke. The two onyx eyed clan heirs, actually listen to Naruto and from the way they acted, it was clear that they were defending Naruto.

'When did those two...," Iruka snapped out of his reverie, shook his head and smiled. It did not matter what relationship those two have with Naruto, he is just glad that there were other kids Naruto's age that would accept him and possibly befriended him. Iruka had realized a while back that Naruto was just an innocent kid that crave attention and not the demon fox. He is one of the few that were able to differentiate between a kunai and a scroll. Albeit a little late, Iruka wanted to care for Naruto as any parent would their child.

Iruka clapped his hands twice to get the class's attention.

"Alright. The class is dismissed. Good luck and do your best, everyone!" Iruka said and smiled. Iruka left and one by one the other students retired for the day and chattered away in their respective group of friends as they head home. Some parents came to pick up their children and asked about their day in the academy. Naruto stayed a little while longer until all the students left, leaving only him, Shikamaru and Sasuke in the classroom. Naruto stayed because he did not want to listen to the adults talking trash about him while the other two understood Naruto's sentiment and simply wish to accompany him. They did not want Naruto to feel lonely as a child like he did in the past. They will always be there for him this time.