"Naruto!" Kushina turned the corner of the hall and saw him.
He looked back at her and spoke in an eerily calm voice. "Hi mom." Then he turned back around. He was looking at his handiwork. Five men were scattered along the floor in front of him. Their blood still flowing out and growing into a larger and larger pool.
She ran up to her son and took him in a fierce embrace. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"
He slowly shook his head. "I'm fine mom not a scratch on me." When she let go of him he stood where he was and continued to look at the bloody scene.
She understood. Carefully taking his face in her hands she turned him around so his back was to the men. "Naruto, you did what you had to, what I have trained you to; if you had not done what you did these men would have gladly killed you. You have nothing to feel ashamed of or guilty about." She spoke to him gently.
He nodded. "I know that mom, I do. And when I was doing it, I was fine. It was just like training. I didn't see people I just saw targets and I hit the targets. But now…" he gulped and looked down ashamed.
"I understand Naruto-kun. To be shinobi is a hard thing, and to be forced to be one so young is even harder. In many ways son I wish you could have a different life. But for you Naruto-kun there is no choice, you must walk the path of the shinobi. What did you say your sensei's very first lesson was?"
He looked up again. She was not surprised to see some tears there. "Iruka-sensei said that the path of the shinobi was the path of death and glory. That we must always be ready to kill or die to protect out village. That is what it means to be shinobi." He sighed. "It's the same thing that you and niisan have told me. I understand it, it's just…"
"The reality is never how you imagine it to be." She said simply. She gently wiped his tears away and smiled at him proudly. "Taking a life should never be done without cause. When we kill we do so in self defense or in the service of our village that is what separates us from common murderers or bandits. So long as when you act it is under one of those two circumstances do not doubt that your actions are just."
"Does it get easier?" He asked.
She nodded. "It does. In time you will learn to simply kill and not feel."
He shuddered a bit. "That sounds horrible."
She slowly nodded. "In a way it is, but Naruto-kun do you want to feel this every time you are forced to kill? Could you bear it? Kakashi and I have both killed many in our times and I think we are both good people with good hearts. But if we could not turn our heart off when we needed to we would go mad."
He looked at her unhappily. "You turn your hearts off?"
Kushina nodded. "We learn not to feel at those times. It is the only way to do it and stay sane."
"Mom it sounds kind of inhuman."
"It is son, but if you are a shinobi you cannot always afford to be human." She hugged him again and kissed him. "Do not misunderstand me! I do not mean to deaden your heart all the time, for that is just as bad as feeling too much. Be human; love, laugh, and even cry when your heart tells you to. But learn to be only shinobi when the time calls for it."
Naruto looked at her and slowly nodded. "I think I understand."
"Good." She took a hold of his arm and led him away and down another hall out of sight of what had happened. She took on a fierce look. "Let's go find your sensei who was supposed to be watching out for you."
XXXXXXXXXX
His mother had been absolutely livid that her son had been attacked at the academy by an instructor. She had demanded that Mizuki be discharged for incompetence for allowing her son to go to an assassination attempt. But Naruto had defended his sensei, pointing out that all Mizuki had done was agree to a reasonable request from a fellow instructor. Kushina had then demanded she be allowed to remain in the class to watch over him. The Hokage explained that he could not allow such an extreme disruption to effect an entire class. So ultimately Kushina was faced with the choice of either allowing Naruto to remain in the academy under the current circumstances. Or of allowing him to take the graduation exam and beginning his shinobi career immediately. Kushina was not interested in this second option. Not only because she wanted him to continue to build more friendships but because she wanted to delay his becoming a ninja as long as possible. As dangerous as life in Konoha was for him she knew the danger would only increase once he began going on missions to foreign countries. She wanted him as strong and ready as possible before that day came. So in the end Naruto remained in class. The Hokage did agree to keep an ANBU squad on duty near the academy whenever he was there.
Kushina was not the only parent upset by the attack. Most of the other parents were also irate and, not surprisingly, blamed Naruto for being the cause. Most of the parents petitioned the Hokage to have Naruto removed from the class. The Hokage refused to punish him for being attacked while on the academy grounds. The parents then demanded that their children be placed in a different class. This demand was also refused as there were no other first year classes available. The Hokage did agree that the students could be pulled out and allowed to repeat the opening course the following fall. A couple parents did this but the others declined as it would mean wasting a full year of their children's education and ninja careers.
For the students the fact that Naruto had actually killed a Chunin settled his standing in their eyes. He was, as Kiba liked to say, the pack leader. The only ones unwilling to acknowledge this fact were Sasuke and Sakura. As the semester continued the pecking order became clear and was best symbolized by the weekly sparring matches. Naruto never lost. Sasuke never lost, except to Naruto. Hinata was clearly the most powerful kunoichi and her swift and crippling jyuken strikes completely overwhelmed all the girls and nearly all the boys as well. She never defeated Naruto but she very nearly managed to beat Sasuke once. The top three slots in the class were cemented.
As for his social skills the girls, with the glaring exception of Sakura, were still infatuated with him. Ino was even more eager to be with him than before (though she never again offered to train with him.) She tried finding ways to spend time with him outside of class but Naruto declined. Hinata continued to train with him as much as she could and still worked on improving her jyuken. She remained the one at his side. Naruto made two additional male friends. Kiba liked him because he recognized him as 'pack leader' and admired his strength and leadership. Chouji was also drawn in mostly thanks to Shikamaru. He was invited to and attended Kiba's birthday party. This he found quite fun as he got to play with all the Inuzuka dogs. As the fall semester drew to its close he was doing well. But as he was always aware not everyone loved him.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Hello little brother." A casual voice greeted him.
"Niisan!" Sasuke smiled. "What are you doing here?"
"My duties are done for the day and so I decided to stop by the academy."
"Great! We can go train together." As he spoke his classmates continued to exit the academy. One particular student in a rather eye catching cloak drew his attention. As was his habit he sent the student a hard look. Seeing this the particular student returned the look with a smile and a wave of his hand.
Itachi did not miss the interaction. He also had no trouble guessing the student's identity given his appearance. "Is that Namikaze Naruto?"
"Yeah." Sasuke's voice dripped venom.
Itachi lifted an eyebrow. "You do not care for him?"
"He's a pretender who is always showing off to get attention."
"Really? Hatake Kakashi speaks of him often and is lavish in his praise."
That brought a scowl to Sasuke's face. "Everyone says that! Iruka, Mizuki, and everyone in the class! He's not that good!" Sasuke spoke with a rare vehemence.
Itachi looked down at him. "He seems to bring out a rare passion in you little brother. Tell me is it true he has mastered both shadow clones and summoning?"
"Yes." Sasuke said flatly. He didn't like remembering how the little pretender had shown him up on the very first day of class. "Can we stop talking about him now?"
"Wait here a moment."
"Niisan where are you going?"
"I think I would like to meet him." Itachi replied. Sasuke could only stand there and watch as his revered older brother went over and talked to the little pretend Hokage.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Pardon me." A polite voice called.
The four of them had just been leaving the academy grounds. Kushina brought them to a halt. The ninja approaching was vaguely familiar. "You're Uchiha Itachi." Kushina said carefully. She did not have a good opinion of the Uchihas. Naruto seemed to have developed a strong dislike for Sasuke, though he refused to share any details with her. And she had never forgiven Fugaku for being the one leading the baying for Naruto's blood. "I met you once at the Tower."
"I remember." He offered her a slight bow. "But then who could forget meeting the famed Namikaze Kushina?" The two of them eyed one another warily and with a mutual respect. They had much in common. They were both powerful shinobi who took pride in their uncommon skill. They also shared the basic ANBU philosophy of doing whatever it took to get the job done. But there was one core difference between them. Itachi sought out personal excellence with a calm detachment. He deliberately attempted to deaden or otherwise ignore his emotions. To Itachi feelings were detriments, they were obstacles to be overcome so that one could learn what one was truly capable of.
Kushina was in that respect his opposite. She used her brain to set her strategy and figure out the best way to achieve it. But it was always her heart that guided her steps. Everything she had done, everything she had endured had been for the sake of love; her love for her husband and later her son. To Kushina her emotions were her reason for being and what gave her life meaning.
Perhaps sensing what they had in common and what they did not, they stood there eying each other like a pair of lions in a cage.
"And how can I help you Itachi?" Kushina asked cautiously.
"Actually," he lowered his gaze. "I wanted to meet your son. This is Naruto?"
Itachi's interest in her son gave her a small chill. She stood directly behind him and placed a hand on each shoulder. "He is, Naruto this is Uchiha Itachi. He is Sasuke's older brother, the heir to the Uchiha clan, and an ANBU captain."
Naruto nodded to him respectfully. "I am pleased to meet you Itachi-san."
"I am also quite pleased to meet you Naruto." He tilted his head. "May I call you Naruto-kun?"
Naruto shrugged. "If you like. Does that mean I can call you Itachi-kun?"
He gave a single nod. "You may. Tell me, might I take a closer look at you?"
That was a very odd request but Naruto nodded. "All right."
Itachi went down to one knee and put his face on Naruto's level and about two feet away. He shut his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again his pupils were both red.
"The sharingan." Naruto said.
"You've seen it before." Itachi sounded a little surprised. "Where?"
"Kakashi niisan showed me his."
Itachi nodded. "Yes that would make sense."
"Why are you looking at me with your sharingan? I'm not performing a jutsu or anything." Naruto felt just a little bit like squirming.
"Whenever I use my sharingan I always feel like I can see more clearly. I am curious to truly see you."
"What do you see?" Naruto asked a bit interested.
Itachi tilted his head a bit. "A mystery." He paused a bit. "Sasuke does not like you."
Naruto frowned. "I don't like him either. I think he's an arrogant jerk."
"Naruto!" Kushina scolded.
"That is quite all right. I find his blunt truthfulness refreshing." Itachi sent him a sliver thin smile. "Too many people only speak the truth when it is convenient. It speaks well of you that you can speak it even when it is not so." Though you will need to learn when to speak and when to say nothing at all. "Tell me something Naruto-kun. Do you know why so many people in this village hate you?"
Both he and Kushina stiffened a bit. "Why are you asking him that?" Kushina asked frostily.
"I have always been curious why the son of Konoha's greatest hero should be so despised by so many. I have always found that fact to be an enigma. I suspect that there is a reason. I have asked my father and others but no one would give me any information."
"I don't know why people hate me. It has never made any sense to me. I've just kind of come to accept it." Naruto said.
Itachi lifted his gaze a bit to look at Kushina. "And you Kushina do you know why your son is hated by those his father saved?"
Kushina glared at him and tightened her grip on her son's shoulders just a bit. Did Itachi know? How old would he have been on that night? Eight? Nine? Would Fugaku have told him the truth before the Sandaime passed his law? She couldn't very well ask him directly, and she damn well wasn't going to ask Fugaku. What sort of game are you playing? "I'm very sorry but I'm afraid I don't know either."
Itachi looked at her intently. "You are lying."
Naruto looked at her. "Mom?"
Damn you! "Itachi are you actually calling me, Namikaze Kushina, clan head of the Namikaze a liar?" A little bit of threat lay underneath the words.
"Yes." He said calmly. He looked to Naruto again. "As you can see Naruto-kun telling inconvenient truths is indeed uncommon."
"If you think I will remain here and be insulted by you Itachi you are sadly mistaken. We have wasted enough time. Let's go." She quickly got them moving while keeping her hold on her son.
"Good bye Naruto-kun, I am pleased to have met you." Naruto sent him back a confused look but said nothing.
XXXXXXXXXX
Naruto waited until they had returned home and he and his mother were alone. "Mom?" He spoke in a small voice.
"Yes dear?"
He took a deep breath. "Why do people hate me?"
She looked at her son and tried not to show the panic she felt. "Dear you heard me tell Itachi I didn't know."
"Mom, I saw your eyes, you were lying." He paused. "And I can see you're lying now."
I taught him too damn well. She felt a certain melancholy pride that her son was not someone who could be easily fooled. Well by adults, he still needs to work on reading eight year old girls. She looked into her son's eyes. She could see his confusion and panic. He's not ready yet. She took a deep breath. "Son have I ever done anything to put you in danger or hurt you?"
He looked shocked. "No! Of course not!"
She knelt down before him and put her hands gently about his face. "And you know that I love you don't you?"
"Yes! Mom of course I know that!"
She nodded. "Son do you trust that whatever I do I do to try and protect you? That I always act in what I think is your best interest?"
He nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
"Then I am going to ask you to trust me now. Please don't ask me anymore about this. When the time comes I will explain everything, I promise."
Why was she so nervous? That was not something he'd seen in her face often. She'd made a promise to him though, and he knew he could trust that. "All right mom, I'll trust you to tell me when you think the time is right."
"Thank you dear!" She pulled him into a hug and gave him a big kiss on his cheek. Obviously relieved.
Naruto trusted his mother absolutely. But she'd taught him to look underneath the underneath. He couldn't help but wonder why she'd been so relieved at not telling him. What could be that bad?
XXXXXXXXXX
They had just about reached their home in the middle of the Uchiha compound when Itachi finally broke the silence. "You've been very quiet Sasuke. Normally you'd be pleading with me to train with you."
"It never does any good so why bother?" Sasuke said bitterly.
Itachi looked him over. "Does it bother you that I spoke to Naruto?"
"No."
Itachi sighed. "If you truly intend to be a ninja Sasuke you will have be far better at deception."
"Maybe you can give me some lessons on that after you get done hanging out with that pretender." Sasuke hurried inside not really wanting anything more to do with his niisan at the moment.
Itachi watched him hurry inside. "Interesting." He said softly.