Three years at the Academy

Though it didn't happen fast enough to suit him Naruto's hand and overall health eventually recovered fully. He returned to class after missing only one week. Though he pleaded to be allowed to fight one handed he was barred from sparring until his hand was completely healed. During this brief interval Sasuke enjoyed a temporary return to prominence as he dominated the sparring matches and ascended to the number one ranking. When Naruto's hand was healed and he was cleared to spar again order was restored. Sasuke and Sakura were an official couple and she seemed to resent Naruto's eclipsing her Sasuke-kun more than he did. Sasuke no longer seemed to be looking for ways to confront Naruto. But even if Sasuke was a bit easier to deal with Naruto didn't trust him. He would never trust any Uchiha. The fact that Sakura had finally gotten the boy she wanted infuriated Ino and drove her to pursue Naruto even harder. There were no more survival exercises held outside the walls. Tsunade began giving lessons to a small group of medic nins she had hand picked. She did however still have time to baby sit.

XXXXXXXXXX

She leaned over the young boy and glared at him. "You really think you have a chance against me?" She did her very best to seem menacing.

Naruto faced her with a calm façade, his blue eyes serene. "You don't scare me."

Shizune sighed. "If Kushina finds out about this she won't be happy."

And sure enough. "Hey everyone the Council meeting actually ended early for once and…" She came to a halt just a couple steps into the dining room. What she saw shocked her. "Tsunade! What are you doing with my son?"

"Nothing! I'm just playing with him like a good godmother and baby sitter should." Tsunade declared with an affronted tone.

Kushina frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "You are playing cards with him!"

Tsunade nodded. "Yes, but I am playing with him."

Kushina glared at her. "I do not want my son gambling!"

"Gambling? Do you see any money?" In front of her was a small pile of candy. In front of Naruto was a slightly larger pile. Kushina continued to glare. Tsunade sighed and shoved all her candy into the space between her and Naruto. "O.k. Naruto let's make this the last hand. I'm all in."

Naruto shrugged. "O.k. godmother." He pushed his candy into the middle as well.

Tsunade chuckled and shook her head. "Naruto never play a hand just because the other person expects you to. You actually played pretty well tonight but you lost everything on the very last hand." She put her cards down with a flourish. "Full house, jacks over nines."

Naruto put his cards down. "Four sevens."

"What?!" She gawked at him. "But you didn't draw any cards!"

He again shrugged. "I got them at the start." All three women stared at him. The odds of drawing four of a kind were about the same as winning the lottery. "What?" He began picking through his winnings for certain pieces of candy.

Shizune giggled. "Lady Tsunade you just lost to a nine year old who has never played cards before."

"Now I can understand how you managed to run up over seven million in gambling debts." Kushina said flatly.

Tsunade ignored them and focused on the really important thing. "What amazing luck!" She sounded impressed. "He really has a gift."

"Wonderful." Kushina said.

Naruto went up to his mother holding about a dozen pieces of candy. "Here mom."

She smiled at her son. "Thank you honey but I really don't want you … oh! Are these double mint fudge?"

Naruto nodded. "They sure are."

She took his offerings and quickly popped one into her mouth. She leaned down and kissed her son's cheek. "You are such a good boy." She smiled and shook her head. "All right Naruto-kun collect your winnings and off to bed." Her son happily nodded and was soon gone. Kushina noticed a far away look in Tsunade's eyes.

"You know Kushina there's a casino in Talumet without a minimum gambling age. With his luck and my knowledge…"

"Good night Tsunade."

XXXXXXXXXX

The first year ended with Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata holding the top three spots. The summer passed peacefully enough. It was the first summer where Naruto had friends other than Hinata to play with. The security measures around him had not loosened. He occasionally visited his friends on special occasions such as Chouji's birthday. However it was much easier for his friends to come and visit him. During that summer his friends would come over regularly to play. Though Naruto did have a different definition of play.

XXXXXXXXXX

"This is team leader to dog boy. What is your status?"

"This is dog boy target is in sight."

"This is lazy boy. It's a drag but I have the target about fifteen feet away."

"Plump boy what's your status? Plump boy please respond. Plump boy? Chouji! Put the chips down and answer!"

"Munch… munch… plump boy here. Target is in sight."

"Pretty girl what is your status?"

"This is pretty girl. Target is in sight. Ready on your order team leader."

"All right team Naruto on my mark… go!"

Four ninjas (sort of) leapt from the bushes. An orange and black frog about the size of a small dog leapt twenty feet in the air. "Hah! You'll never take me alive!"

As Naruto watched from a nearby tree Kiba, Chouji, and Shikamaru crashed into each other and wound up in a scrum on the ground. Hinata and Akamaru managed to avoid the pile up.

Looking at all the boys tangled up with one another Hinata pressed the send button on her radio communicator. "Uhm, Naruto-kun?"

He sighed. "Yes Hinata-chan?"

"I think we've lost the target."

"Man this is troublesome. Can we watch clouds now?"

He shut his eyes and slowly shook his head. "All right team Naruto I'm aborting the mission. Let's go watch clouds instead."

"Can you get your mom to make us some of her cookies?"

"Sure Chouji."

"Hey Naruto, do you have any milk for Akamaru?"

"Sure."

Gamakichi landed on the tree branch next to him. "They didn't catch me so I get two bags of chips right?"

"Sure." I really need to work on my leadership skills.

XXXXXXXXXX

The second year had begun with a small difference. Kurenai had been reassigned. Hiashi decided that his daughter's protection could be entrusted to a member of the cadet branch of the Hyuga who was a third year student. Naruto had known Neji as long as he had Hinata. But he and Neji had never become friends. Despite many stays at the Hyuga mansion and many painful efforts he had never managed to break through the boy's formal and rigid exterior. He had also slowly come to realize Neji's method of talking down to Hinata with insults camouflaged as politeness. In addition he and Neji had contradictory philosophies.

XXXXXXXXXX

"I must respectfully disagree with you Naruto-san." Neji said in that calm superior tone of his. "If you do become Hokage it is because you were destined to."

"Destined? You make it sound like being Hokage is reserved for me. Believe me it's not. I sweat and push myself to the limit so I can prove myself worthy of being Hokage. When I become Hokage it will be because I earned it."

Neji gave him that smug smirk that always got underneath Naruto's skin. "I am afraid you misunderstand me Naruto-san. I am not suggesting that becoming Hokage is easy or does not demand sacrifice. What I am saying is that your birth has pre-selected you to be Hokage, if you do in fact become Hokage. Think for a moment how many ninja there are from all the villages, and how very few will ever even be considered for the position of Kage. Thus those who become Kages of their villages were all born with that destiny. Consider your own birth. You were born the heir of one of Konoha's most powerful and respected clans. Even more importantly you are the son of a Hokage. Clearly, your birth has pre-selected you for greatness. If you do become Hokage one day it will not be because of your exceptional effort or work habits. Tell me Naruto-san, do you believe if you had been born the son of a mechanic or a carpenter that you could ever become Hokage no matter how hard you worked?"

"If my will was strong enough and I was ready to commit to it no matter what, then yes I could. If you believe in your dream with your whole heart and give everything over to it you can do anything." Naruto answered fervently.

Neji cracked a self satisfied laugh. "Easy enough for you to say."

Naruto halted and everyone else did as well. He turned to fully face Neji. "What the hell does that mean?"

Neji faced him with complete confidence. "It means it is very easy to believe anything is possible when you have been gifted with one of the rare births that truly allows that. If you stand up and proclaim you will be Hokage one day no one laughs at your ambition because they all recognize that for you it is possible. And why? Because of how hard you work or how strong your will is? No, it is the simple fact that your last name is Namikaze. You are Namikaze Naruto, son of a Hokage; for you anything truly is possible. But if you were Machuki Naruto, son of a plumber; and you made the same proclamation everyone would laugh at you."

Naruto smiled. "You know what? I'm sure they would. But even if the whole world laughed, it doesn't mean I couldn't still do it."

Neji just shook his head. "Such unbelievable arrogance. Only someone born at the very top could ever truly believe that. Only someone who has never struggled could think that way."

"Never struggled? People have been trying to kill me my entire life!"

Neji grimaced. "You should consider that as simply the price tag for all that you have been given thanks to your birth. The powerful are always hated." He seemed to grimace a bit. "Always!" The two boys locked gazes.

Kushina coughed. "Shall we get going?"

Neji nodded. "Of course Kushina-san.

"Sure mom."

Neji bowed slightly. "I apologize if my harsh truths wound your ideals." Naruto just frowned at him. Neji had a real gift for making apologies sound like insults. Naruto decided not to bother responding. Their argument was pointless as neither of them would ever be able to change the other's mind.

XXXXXXXXXX

Second year students began learning the basics of chakra control. For students like Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata much of their time was a waste as they were forced to the same pace as their classmates. Each Saturday Naruto and Hinata would go through the same murderous workout beside his mom. Throughout the second year at the academy Hinata built up her endurance and was able to last for seven hours of the workout. Naruto had invited his other friends to join them. Shikamaru and Chouji had paled upon hearing the description. Kiba joined in some times; he liked the challenge of trying to keep up the pace Naruto set. By the end of the year he was able to last about four hours. But most Saturdays it was just him and Hinata.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Want to sit in the rose garden for a little bit before you go home Hinata-chan?"

"Sure Naruto-kun." The two of them sat down on one of the wooden benches. Kushina had gone inside and so the two of them had a little privacy.

"The sunset is really beautiful." Naruto remarked. "The whole sky is just red and orange."

Hinata looked westward and nodded appreciatively. "It is very beautiful." She let out a content sigh. She loved the rose garden on the Namikaze estates. Though soon it would be winter and the roses would all be gone until the spring. It was all ready getting a bit cool. She rubbed her arms. Seeing that Naruto reached out and pulled her onto his lap. "Eek!" She stared at him as he wrapped his arms around hers. "Naruto-kun what are you doing?"

He grinned and pulled her close to him. "I saw you were cold and I wanted to help you keep warm. Is something wrong Hinata-chan?"

"Uhm no." Sitting on his lap with his arms wrapped around her they were almost nose to nose. Our faces are so close. If I just leaned in and kissed his lips what would he say?

"Hinata-chan are you feeling all right? Your face is turning red." He put a hand on her forehead and had a look of concern.

"Uhm, I'm fine Naruto-kun. I'm just a little tired." She settled for just putting her head down on his shoulder.

"Say Hinata-chan, why did you decide to grow your hair out?"

"Oh well most of the other girls have long hair and I just thought I would try it too. Do you uhm, like it?"

"Yeah, I think it makes you look even prettier than usual."

She knew her face had darkened again. She could never in her life hear that enough from him. "Thank you Naruto-kun." They didn't say much more after that. They just sat there together on the bench keeping each other warm as they watched the sun leave the sky.

From a second story window Kushina watched them. Protective surveillance she would call it or spying as Naruto would call it. Watching the kids she smiled fondly.

XXXXXXXXXX

The second year ended with Naruto maintaining his dominance of the class. Sasuke remained second. And Hinata was third. During the school year there was an assassination attempt on Naruto. It failed, and the Chunin ended up dead with Naruto's sword through his heart. It was yet another harsh reminder, not that he needed one that there were always enemies about. He and Sasuke developed a very frosty relationship. Sasuke did not look for confrontations with him any more, but there were times when Naruto could feel his eyes burrowing into his back. Naruto honestly didn't know what to make of Sasuke. He was a rival and an Uchiha so there would be no friendship. But he couldn't gauge how strong the passions were in the dark haired boy. Most of the time Sasuke would seem to quiet and brooding, except when Sakura was with him. Then he would normally lighten up. The relationship between Sasuke and Sakura was best summed up by the fact that some of the other girls had taken to calling her, 'puppy.' During the summer along with his workouts he and Hinata began to receive training in medical jutsus from Tsunade alongside his mom. These lessons from Tsunade were absolutely excruciating for Naruto. As Tsunade was want to say medical jutsus were based on just one thing; chakra control. She would point out that for healing using too much chakra was actually worse than using too little. Unlike most of his other jutsus where overloading chakra only made them even more effective. He also felt slightly embarrassed by the fact that his mom was fairly good at picking things up and Hinata actually seemed to have a talent for it. Meanwhile he struggled to do even the most basic of jutsus. Fortunately he had an escape… sometimes.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Listen kid how would you like to learn one of your father's original jutsus?"

Naruto's ears immediately perked up. "Is it an offensive jutsu?"

Jiraiya chuckled. "Oh you could say that. It's and A level wind based attack jutsu that took your father three years to develop." He held out his palm and began to swirl chakra around it. "This is called rasengan."

Naruto's eyes expanded as the chakra seemed to swirl faster and faster while staying contained in a small sphere in his palm. "Wow! How powerful is it?"

Jiraiya smiled. "Kid see that tree?" At Naruto's nod Jiraiya dashed over to it and drove his right palm into the middle of the thick trunk. As Naruto watched the rasengan bored through it with ease. When Jiraiya pulled his hand back there was a smooth about a foot wide going through the tree. Naruto could easily imagine what that kind of force could do to a person.

"That was sooo cool! Pervy granddad you have to teach me this!"

Jiraiya frowned at him. "I'll teach you on one condition Naruto."

"Anything!"

"Stop calling me pervy granddad! I am the great and all knowing Toad Sage!"

Grinning Naruto gave the old man a bow. "Jiraiya-san, will you please teach me this jutsu?"

Smiling Jiraiya nodded. "Finally a little respect. You can knock off the san nonsense, though I wouldn't mind you calling me sensei like your father did. O.k. Naruto now to begin with…"

"Naruto!"

They both stopped to see and angry blonde storming towards them. "Naruto what are you doing out here with him? Come on it's time for instruction Kushina and Hinata are both waiting."

"Uhm actually godmother if it's o.k. with you I think I'd like to stay here and work with Jiraiya-sensei."

She stiffened as if she'd just been slapped. "Jiraiya-sensei! Since when do you call him that? And why don't you call me sensei?"

Jiraiya smiled smugly. "You can't blame the kid Tsunade. He wants to learn something useful."

A vein immediately began throbbing in her forehead. "Listen you old pervert nothing is more useful that medical jutsus!"

"But godmother," Naruto whined. "I can't work any of them! Whenever I try you spend all your time telling me I have to use less chakra! Can't I just work here learning attack jutsus while you teach my mom and Hinata?" He asked pleadingly.

Tsunade gave him as warm a smile as she could manage while thinking about throttling Jiraiya. "Now Naruto-kun, I'm sure you'll get the hang of this you just need more practice that's all." She then looked at her former teammate. "And you! Stop hounding me! I don't appreciate you stalking me like this you know!"

Jiraiya looked affronted. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh cut the crap! Ever since I came back here you've suddenly been in Konoha an awful lot. And why do you stay here when you're in the village anyway?"

He waved an arm at the three story mansion. "What? There aren't any spare rooms? Are you the only one who gets to stay here?"

"I don't own any property in this village anymore. How many houses do you own? Five? Six?"

He grinned at her and shrugged. "What can I say Tsunade? I feel at home here and Kushina did invite me."

"She only did that because you were whining like a spoiled child that I was staying here! And she never thought you'd actually move in!"

He smiled. "My, my Tsunade, but I do seem to bring out the passion in you."

"You sure do and the passion is called hate." She grabbed Naruto by the right arm and began to drag him toward the house. "Come on Naruto let's go."

"Hey! He's staying here with me!" Jiraiya grabbed Naruto by the other arm and yanked him back.

"No! He's coming with me!" She pulled him hard.

"He's staying right here!" He pulled back hard.

"Let go!" She grabbed on with both hands and began to pull.

"No, you let go!" Jiraiya grabbed on with both hands as well and began to strain.

"He's mine!"

"No mine!"

"Mine!"

"Mine!"

"Stop! You're tearing my arms out!" Naruto cried out. Mercifully they both let go.

Jiraiya stood in front of her and tried to look imposing. "Look flat chested Tsunade the boy obviously wants me to teach him! So what are you going to do about it?"

That was so the wrong question to ask.

"Come on Naruto and from now on when I'm teaching you I expect you to call me Tsunade-sensei."

As she led him back inside he was far too frightened of what he'd just seen to argue with her. "Yes Tsunade-sensei. Uhm shouldn't you at least check his vitals? You hit him pretty hard."

"He's fine." She assured him.

Naruto looked back at the prone figure. "Tsunade-sensei you really hit him pretty hard. I think he might be dead!"

Tsunade sighed. "Trust me Naruto I'm just not that lucky."

XXXXXXXXXX

The most memorable thing to happen in Naruto's third year took place during a recess early in September.

XXXXXXXXXX

The boy was fighting to hold back his tears. Just like always he was all alone. Everyone told him to quit, everyone told him he was wasting his time. Not just the other kids but his teachers ands even his parents told him he should face up to reality and give up. But he couldn't! It was what he had always dreamed of and it meant everything to him. But lately he'd begun to wonder if he was just fooling himself. No one believed in him! Not one single person he was completely alone! And here he was again being taunted and attacked by five other boys. They yelled at him to quit, to give up. They were going to beat him and show him he wasn't a real ninja. He fought back the tears and readied himself for one more fight one more beating. But he began to wonder how many more of these hopeless stands he had left in him.

"Why don't you just give up Lee? We're sick of you and your stupid speeches and your stupid standing there trying to work a jutsu that you never will! You're just a waste! Just quit and stop wasting everyone's time!"

"I won't quit! I'll show all of you that I can be a ninja even if I can't use chakra!"

"You're such an idiot! There's no such thing as a ninja who can't work a jutsu!" The other boy taunted.

"Then I'll be the first!" Lee shouted. "I don't care what it takes! I'll be a ninja because that is my dream!"

"Hot blooded idiot." The boy smiled at his friends as they got ready to rush in. Then he felt a pain in the back of his head and everything went black.

The entire courtyard watched as Naruto launched himself at the remaining four boys, all of whom were fourth year students. He beat them down in less than thirty seconds. Just that quick Naruto was standing in the middle of the circle with five kids either unconscious or on the grounds crying.

Lee stood there gaping at the blonde boy wearing the Hokage cloak. He had no idea what to do.

Naruto smiled and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Namikaze Naruto. Pleased to meet you."

The words seemed to snap him out of it. Lee immediately bowed to the boy. "I am pleased to meet you as well Naruto-san! I am Rock Lee."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "You all right Lee? I hope you don't mind me getting involved in your fight. I just can't stand bullies." He looked down at the boys who were still awake. "I have no respect for those who use their strength just to torment others. You should use your strength to protect others."

"No I do not mind Naruto-san. In fact I thank you for your assistance."

"What sort of game are you playing at Naruto-san?"

The cool and disdainful voice made Lee stiffen and brought a frown to Naruto's face. "I'm not playing anything I saw someone who needed help and so I helped him."

Neji looked to his classmate and then looked back to Naruto. "Do you even know who it is you intervened to help? This boy," Neji refused to even say his name. "Is a complete and utter failure who by his mere presence wastes the valuable time and resources of our instructors. He is a failure and should quit."

Naruto began getting angry. "Neji if you say one more damn word I'm going to knock you on your ass."

Lee gasped. Neji was a genius of the Hyuga clan. No one spoke to him like that. Neji stood his ground and carefully eyed Naruto up and down reading his body language and coming to a conclusion. "You are serious."

"Damn right." He nodded.

"Why?" Neji asked, genuinely curious. "Why would you be willing to fight me and risk angering the Hyuga clan for the sake of someone you don't even know?"

"Because he's someone who needed help, that's all I need to know."

Neji grinned derisively. "And when you are Hokage Naruto-san will you spend all your time getting cats out of trees and helping little old ladies cross the street?"

Naruto shrugged. "I guess it depends on how much time I have." Seeing everyone looking he raised his voice. "I don't like seeing people attacked just because their weaker. That is what cowards and criminals do. Shinobi fight to defend themselves or to serve their village, not to make themselves feel better by beating up those who are weaker!"

The kids listened and nodded taking his words to heart. Neji grinned and shook his head. "You know Naruto-san you really are filled to overflowing with foolish ideals. Only a fool would really believe that the strong shouldn't take advantage of the weak. That is not how the world works."

Naruto smiled. "Then I guess I'll just have to change how the world works. If it is foolish Neji then I would rather stay a fool and hold on to my ideals." Neji smirked and simply walked away truly amused. Naruto looked at the boy he had just saved. Wow he has thick eyebrows. "Listen Lee I heard what you said about being a ninja even if you can't use jutsus."

Lee's eyes fell to the ground and he prepared to hear again how he should give up.

"I just wanted to tell you that I agree with you. If it's what you truly want then make it happen. I'm sure you can be a ninja even without using chakra."

Lee's head shot up. This was the very first time anyone had given him any encouragement since it had become clear he couldn't work jutsus. "Do you really mean that Naruto-san?"

"Yes I do! I believe that if your will is strong enough and your willing to work hard you can do anything! If it's your dream to be a ninja then follow your dream and don't let anyone stop you!"

Lee felt a weight lift up off his heart and suddenly felt real hope that maybe it wasn't impossible. He bowed deeply. "Arigato Naruto-san!"

"Hey just call me Naruto. Listen do you want to be friends?"

"Friends?"

"Sure! You seem like a really good guy and I would like us to be friends. If you want you can even come work out with me this Saturday."

Lee was deeply touched and bowed once more. "Naruto-san I am deeply grateful but I'm not worthy of being friends with the heir of the Namikaze clan."

"Who says?" Naruto asked. Lee didn't know how to answer that. "Listen, don't worry about that. If you want to be friends I'd like that. And if you want to train with me we start at 7 in the morning." He turned to leave but before he did so he raised his voice again. "And if anyone messes with my friend Lee here they mess with me too."

Lee watched him go and decided he would definitely go to the Namikaze estates Saturday.

XXXXXXXXXX

In the third year the academy began to concentrate on team building exercises. The instructors tried to drive home the fact that they were expected to be able to work with comrades even if their personalities did not mesh, or even if they disliked each other. This lesson was driven home when Naruto was paired with Sasuke. They did not like each other; they did not trust each other. But they did complete the exercise. During the year Rock Lee became a friend. His mother liked him very much; she just thought he was so damn earnest. Lee adapted to Naruto's training better than anyone ever had. By the end of the year when Lee graduated the academy (despite not being able to make a bushin) he had been able to perform the full ten hour program. Hinata was up to eight and a half hours and Kiba could last six. Seeing Lee do so well motivated Kiba even more and he began coming around on most Saturdays. Tsunade refused to give up teaching Naruto medical jutsus and eventually he was able to perform some of the basic ones. But even Tsunade was willing to admit he would never be able to work the most complex ones. Hinata was a natural and Tsunade began thinking of her as an apprentice. She and Naruto were the only academy students she taught. Her class at the hospital was made up of Genins and Chunins. Jiraiya was also teaching him (though never again at a time when Tsunade was scheduled to.) By the end of the year Naruto had mastered the rasengan. Jiraiya was impressed at how quickly he had picked it up. His father after all had needed three years to master it. At the end of his third year at the academy Naruto was clearly mid Jonin level. As the hot summer days wore down and the final school year approached there were changes in the air. Not only for him but for all of Konoha.

XXXXXXXXXX

"You wanted to talk to me?" Tsunade asked. They were on top of the Tower and Sarutobi was looking up at the cliff faces.

"Yes, thank you for coming to meet with me Tsunade."

"No problem old man. So what's this about?"

"Have you enjoyed your time back in the village Tsunade?"

She frowned at him. He was definitely up to something. "Some of it," she admitted. "I will admit I did enjoy teaching again. Some of the younger generation of this village are very surprising." She smiled. "And then there's Naruto. He really is an amazing child. He's going to be quite an amazing man and ninja one day."

"And Hokage?" Sarutobi asked quietly.

She thought about that for a moment. "Yes. It's not what I would ever want for him. But that little kid will be Hokage one day." She smiled fondly. "And do you know what else? He really will be the greatest Hokage ever."

Sarutobi studied her. "You do not agree with his ambition. But would you help him achieve it?"

She thought about it and slowly nodded. "Yes I would. Not only because it is his dream but because it was Dan's and Nawaki's as well. Their dream is alive in him now. And so long as my godson truly wants it I would help him any way that I could."

Sarutobi nodded slowly. "I am very glad to hear that Tsunade. For there is a way you can almost guarantee he becomes Hokage."

That got her attention. "And how's that?"

"Name him your successor once he is ready."

"What? What are you talking about old man?" Tsunade was suddenly very nervous.

Sarutobi grinned. "Just as you say Tsunade. I really am an old man now. I have been ready for retirement for many years, but I have waited until I had a replacement ready."

She began to go pale. "Oh no! Don't you dare say it!"

"Tsunade, I ask you to succeed me, and become the Fifth Hokage."