6

It had been two weeks since the wave mission, two weeks since Naruto had been given the scroll by the Sandaime…and two weeks since he had tried to learn the first Futon jutsu.

And he still could not get past step one…

He had managed to learn the Bunshin Bakuhatsuteki on the first day…albeit; the clones were far more explosive than what was explained. He had then gotten to work on what he assumed was the easiest jutsu. Futon: Hitofuki no Shintenshin …it was a shit load harder than he originally thought…and a shit load more painful.

The jutsu basically required that he expand his lungs, allowing him to suck in more air, and then fire it out with a pressurized shell of chakra.

He already has gone to the hospital to get his ribs realigned and his lungs pumped out, as it was a quarter filled with his own blood. He had gone at least seven times…and would likely be going an eighth tie if he did not figure out where he was going wrong.

Naruto sighed and laid back, "Damn, what the fuck am I doing wrong? I have channeled wind natured chakra through my lungs, coated them with a pressurized shell of chakra…I have done everything it said in the description…so why the fuck can't I do it?!" Naruto shouted as he grabbed the scroll and began to read…trying to find if he had missed anything…

"GRRRN" he looked towards his stomach and sighed. Performing a single hand seal, he created a dozen clones, "Go get me something to eat."

The clones saluted as they ran off towards the village…

Half an hour later, Naruto was standing with his legs spread out, 'Alright…inhale as the wind chakra is pulled into the lungs…coat the chakra with a pressurized shell…and…'

Naruto suddenly stopped as things started to flash across his eyes. He saw Ichiraku's ramen and had a conversation with Ayame before he left after he received his order of Miso and Shrimp ramen. He was halfway past the clan district when he was tackled to the ground by a VERY pissed off Inuzuka Kiba…and then everything stopped.

Naruto stood there for a few moments…and had only one thought, 'What the fuck just happened?'

He looked up in the sky and saw that the sun was beginning to set, 'Damn…well, I guess I can ask Kakashi-sensei tomorrow.' he turned around and sighed, 'I wish there was an easier way for me to do this damn jutsu…but its not like I can create a hundred Kage Bunshin and have them go over every chakra control exercise in the book, and have it transferred to me.'

He suddenly stopped…the flashes…the cloud of smoke…

Naruto slapped himself in the face as he grumbled, "I am such an idiot…"

Next Day

Naruto stood in the training grounds, panting in exhaustion as he fell to his knees. His theory was correct…whatever chakra exercises the age Bunshin learned, was transferred to him. He had created a hundred Kage Bunshin the night before and had them go over the tree climbing exercise. By the end of the night, he was so exhausted from recreating Kage Bunshin that he doubted he would be able to do anything in training.

But he took in a deep breath and crossed his fingers…this was the moment of truth, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

In an instant, a cloud of smoke appeared in front of Naruto…and inside it…a single Kage Bunshin.

Just the amount Naruto wanted…

He grinned as he thought to himself, 'And the Hyuuga's say you can't change…'

Two Weeks Later

Naruto was sitting on the edge of the bridge as he and his team awaited Kakashi's arrival.

Sasuke and Sakura were standing off to the side. Sakura was looking at Naruto with worry, and Sasuke was glaring at Naruto's back.

The last Uchiha sneered in disgust as he thought, 'That worthless bastard, he still ahs his mother…and he treats her as if she is worth less than shit.' he uncrossed his arms and walked over to Naruto, 'I am going to get answers from him, whether Kakashi-sensei approves or not.'

Naruto looked at the river flowing beneath him as he flipped a kunai in the air and caught it by the hilt before it went towards the river below him. He had already lost three kunai, but he was definitely improving on his reaction time.

Suddenly he was yanked off of the bridge edge and turned around, forced to look at a pissed off Uchiha, "Dobe, you have got a shit load of questions to answer, and you WILL answer them!"

Naruto narrowed his eyes at Sasuke, "What would you possibly want to know from me?"

Sasuke snarled as he tightened the grip he had on the front of Naruto's shirt, "What the hell if your problem?! Your own mother was on her hands and knees…CRACK!" Sasuke had to let go as Naruto punched him square in the face, breaking his nose.

Naruto snarled and grabbed the front of Sasuke's shirt, "Mention that whore around me one more time…I DARE you!" Naruto adjusted his grip so it was around Sasuke's throat.

Sakura ran over and grabbed Naruto's wrist, "Naruto please stop, he didn't mean…OOPH!" she was shoved out of the way and fell to the ground as Naruto continued strangling Sasuke.

Naruto continued squeezing Sasuke's throat until the Uchiha's eyes began to roll to the back of his head. He then shoved Sasuke to the ground and whispered in his ear, "If you ever touch me again…then I will make sure that the Uchiha clan dies with you."

Sasuke watched as Naruto walked away, and hissed underneath his breath, "This isn't over Uzumaki…not by a long shot."

Late That Night

Naruto was walking home as he read a piece of paper. Kakashi had nominated him and his teammates for the Chunin exams. He had a week to make a final decision as to whether or not he was going to take part in them. Personally, he was definitely going to take part in the exams, the real question however, was whether or not his teammates were, and what would happen if they did?

Sure, there was the possibility that if he decided not to take part, they could just put in a replacement teammate so his team could take the exams…but what if they were disqualified because he didn't want to go?

So many questions, with so many possibilities…it was mind numbing.

Naruto turned a corner and was about to head to his apartment…

"Hello Naruto-kun…" when he heard a dark voice behind him, before all he saw was black…

Time Skip…Two Days

Naruto's eyes fluttered open as he looked at the white ceiling above him, covered in cracks and jagged marks.

He was in his apartment, but how the hell did he get there? The last thing he remembered was that he was walking down the street towards his home, and then…nothing.

Pushing himself up, he shook his head as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. He stood up and headed to the bathroom, hoping to relieve himself before he headed off to team meetings.

He walked up to the toilet and looked up, "HOLY SHIT!" before he jumped back, tearing the door off of its hinges. He stood back up and walked back over to the toilet, which had a mirror above it, showing his face…his real face.

Years wearing that genjutsu had made Naruto forget what his actual face looked like, but then again, who would want to see their face adorned with scars.

He stepped back and looked at his body…the genjutsu had fallen. But how? Unless his chakra control had been shot to absolute hell, there was no way his genjutsu should have fallen.

He focused his chakra and tried to get the genjutsu up…only for it to fail over and over again, 'Shit, I can't head to team training without my genjutsu, not with all these scars.' he walked into his room and looked through his closet, 'Damn, I never thought I would have to use this.' he pulled out a long cloak that would easily cover his entire body.

He smirked and threw it over himself…covering his body…including the three black swirl marks surrounding a single kanji…the kanji for servant.

Elsewhere

Kushina looked at Orochimaru, who was standing before her, "Did you apply the seal?"

Orochimaru smirked at Kushina, "Of course I did, why would I not do such? After all, we did have a deal. I may be an S-rank missing-nin, but I do keep my promises."

Kushina sighed, then looked up at Orochimaru with fierce determination, "Do it…"

He smiled as he bared his teeth, his fangs elongating as a red venom dripped from the tips, "As you wish, Kushina-chan." his head shot forward, and his fangs buried themselves into Kushina's neck.

"AGGHH!" she screamed in pain as Orochimaru bit into her neck, allowing the crimson venom to flow through her veins. She felt as if her body was on fire as Orochimaru ripped his fangs out of her neck.

The Snake Sannin chuckled as he turned away, "Our deal…is completed." he phased through the walls as Kushina fell to her knees screaming in pain. She clutched her shoulder as she dug her nails into her flesh.

Her eyes snapped open as she began to see images before her…

Flashback

Naruto was sitting on his knees as he scrubbed the floor of a large hallway. The hall was so big; no less than ten maids would ever be able to properly clean it. But Naruto was being forced to clean every inch of the hallway…by his own mother.

Naruto had a look of utter defeat on his face, as if he had nothing to live for.

"Naruto…get your ass in here now!" Naruto flinched as he heard his mothers voice, "I said now!"

Naruto quickly ran over to the direction of his mother's voice, fearing what would happen if he didn't.

As he entered the room, he saw his mother standing before him, a look of anger on her face.

He lowered his head as he shivered in fear, "Y-yes…K-Kaa-s-sama?"

Kushina grabbed Naruto by his hair and hoisted him up, eliciting a yelp of pain from him, "Do you see this room?!" she dropped Naruto and pointed at the room, "I told you to clean this room until it was spotless today! So why the hell is it still dirty?!"

Naruto whimpered as he shied away in fear, "K-Kaa-s-s-sama, y-you told m-me to c-clean the h-hall w-when you g-got home, I d-didn't h-have t-t-tim-me to f-finish."

Kushina sneered and backhanded Naruto, "How dare you make such lousy excuses…" she turned and left the room, "No supper for you tonight!" she slammed the door behind her as the three year old was left in the room.

End Flashback

Kushina fell onto her side, tears streaming down her face as more and more memories passed across her eyes, 'I am so sorry my sochi…I wasn't in the right state of mind…please forgive me.'

Kushina's eyes scrunched shut as she was forced to view another memory…

Flashback

Naruto was running towards the Namikaze compound, several bags of groceries in hand. His mother had sent him to the store to grab some food. It was a hassle, especially since he had to use his own money, and was always overcharged for goods.

He entered the clan district and saw the Namikaze compound in the distance. He sighed in relief, 'Just a little bit further and…OOPH!' he was tripped and fell over, dropping the groceries as he fell.

He looked up to see the hateful eyes of several members of various clans, "Hey, it's the demon! Get him!"

Naruto shot up and grabbed the bags as he tried to outrun the growing mob behind him. He saw the gates, 'I'm…' he grabbed the gates and pulled on them…to find they were locked.

He panicked and began to yank on the gates as he shouted, "Shit, shit, shit!"

He looked up at a window…and saw his mother just standing there, watching as he tried to open the gates.

He shouted as he grabbed the bars, "Kaa-sama! Please, open the gates!"

Kushina merely grabbed a bottle of Sake and guzzled it down, walking away from the window.

Naruto screamed as the mob finally reached him, "KAA-SAMA!"

End Flashback

Kushina dug her nails so deeply into her flesh that if she were to pull back, she would tear her own skin off.

She had often sent Naruto out to grab groceries, and she would sit at home, drinking away her sorrows.

Her eyes snapped back open…as the last memory came before her…

The night she drove her son away…

Flashback

Naruto was sitting in his room…well; it was more like a cellar closet. The floors were hard, cold, and uncomfortable, and the only thing he had to keep himself warm was the clothes on his back, which were too small for him, and moth eaten.

He looked at the ceiling and cried, "H-happy b-birthday…t-to m-me…h-happy b-birthday…t-to…me…" he curled his feet into himself as he sobbed.

"SLAM!" the door to his closet was thrown open and he was dragged out by his hair. He was thrown onto the ground as the air was knocked out of him.

Standing above him, Kushina was stumbling over herself, the tell tale smell of sake rolling off of her, "Y-you…demon!" she kicked Naruto in the stomach as she grabbed a stake from the wall, "How dare you sing when you KILLED My Husband!" she grabbed Naruto's hair and sneered, "You filthy beast!"

She stabbed the stake into Naruto's chest, making the young blond scream in agony.

Kushina slapped him as she finished carving Naruto's chest up, "I am ashamed to have birthed you!" she stepped on his hand and began to apply even more pressure, "The only reason you live here is so you can work off your redemption for killing my husband and child!" Kushina spat in Naruto's face as she brought her foot back to kick him again, "Be glad I have a kind enough heart to let you live under my roof!"

Just as Kushina was about to kick Naruto, he jumped out of the way and ran up the stairs…before he plowed out the door, he turned around and glared at Kushina, "Fine! You don't want me here?! Well good! Because I am never coming back to this hellhole!" he slammed open the door and ran out of the house…

The lat thing Kushina saw before he ran away was the look on Naruto's face…betrayal, sadness…hatred…for her.

End Flashback

Kushina fell to the ground completely as tears flowed freely, her fingers still buried into her own flesh. Naruto had been only five when he left…when she had lost the only remaining family she had left.

Kushina sobbed as she curled into a ball, 'I am so sorry my Sochi…I am so sorry…'

As Kushina continued to bawl and whimper on the floor, the bite mark from when Orochimaru bit her began to shift. It became three black swirl marks, surrounding the kanji for master