Chapter 042

(One Year Later)

Naruto (age 12) was on his way to the academy for the Genin team assigning while sporting a new look for himself. Gone was his ninja mask and braided ponytail, leaving his long stringy blond hair that was partly spiked on top to fall sloppily down his back and over his shoulders with some strands to fall over his forehead. His Leaf head protector was tied over his head with some of his hair resting over it. As a result of Minato's chakra infusing into the preteen, some of Naruto facial baby fat was gone, making him look a little more mature than his age.

His clothes appearance was now like that of a male Jounin except he was still wearing his finger-less black gloves, a sleeveless and colar-less blackish blue shirt showing off his nicely toned bare arms. He wasn't wearing the official Konoha Jounin vest. Instead he was wearing a green vest that looked similar to a Jounin's but the collar and the bottom rim weren't as thick and it didn't have as many pockets. On him was a specially made white vest reached passed his waist with the same features and flame designs as Yondaime's trademark trench coat. On the back of the vest in red kanji was the slogan Konoha No Nidaime Senkō ("Konoha's Second Flash").

Many were looking at Naruto was he made his way down the streets of Konoha, totally surprised at his new appearance. A number of the men and women were murmuring amongst themselves about how shocking it was that Naruto's new appearance made him look strikingly like a young miniature version of Yondaime Hokage with attitude.

The preteen saw the looks everyone was giving him but he just continued on his way. He remembered how Tsunade objected to the idea of him dressing up that like, arguing that it'll earn him dangerous attention, especially from Iwagakure. Naruto argued that he had enemies all his life both within and outside of Konoha, and that the Akatsuki only added to it even before his new appearance. He then added that no matter how he dresses being a ninja will always guarantee many enemies and allies at the same time. Tsunade knew this of course, but as a protective mother, adoptive or not, she still didn't want to risk losing precious her son whom she believe was growing up too fast for her liking.

Like Sasuke (age 12), Naruto passed all of the exams with flying colors. However Naruto held back some of his abilities so as to not show off what he can really do and add more to the already existing rivalry he has with Sasuke, who was anything but happy after he learned of Itachi's defeat to Naruto…

(Flashback; One Year Ago)

It's sometimes hard to keep certain issues a secret, especially if this issue regards the fight Naruto got himself into with Itachi and Kisame protecting Hinata and Ino. Ino told Sakura and her other female schoolmates about it and they told their friends and folks about it and the rest is history. Many Chuunins and Jounins who've heard about the event from their ANBU friends found the story hard to believe until they said that Kakashi was an eyewitness to it, something that couldn't be refuted. Even some of the ANBU were surprised about how Naruto held his grounds against some like Itachi and survived no less to tell about it, unlike anyone else who crossed his path with the exception of Sasuke who was spared for reasons not explained. Naruto's encounter with the two S-class missing-nins was the talk of the village.

Naruto was on his way to school, dodging and running from as many fangirls as he could while on the way.

They don't even know I'm the son of Yondaime and already they're acting like this, Naruto thought as he ran into the academy with a horde of fangirls chasing him, Damn! I was hoping that my encounter with Itachi would have been kept on a down low! How the hell did it spread this fast!?

'…I know the feeling Naruto…,' Minato laughed, '…I had my share of fangirls back in my days before Kushina came along and scared them all away…'

This isn't funny, Naruto shot back in frustration, Many of the rumors and gossips that I've heard about my battle with Itachi and Kisame were exaggerated!

Entering the building, Naruto, by stroke of luck, managed to have the girls lose sight of where he disappeared to. Disappointed, the girls disbanded and decided to chase after Naruto later. Sighing in relief, Naruto made his way to class and entered to see all eyes on him.

From what Naruto saw, there were mixed expressions, most of the girls were looking at him with hearts in their eyes, whereas Sakura looked at him questionably, wondering if what her best friend told her was true. She found it hard to believe that Naruto was able to stand against a feared ninja like Itachi. Shikamaru, Chouji and Kiba looked at Naruto with smirks on their faces, wanting to hear from the horse's mouth exactly what happened instead on listening to the rumors. Shino looked at him with indifference; however he himself was interested in the encounter. Naruto looked directly at Sasuke who was looking at him with pure contempt and hatred in his eyes. The blonde ninja knew Sasuke was aware of what happened between him and his older brother and to say that Sasuke wasn't happy about it would have been understatement. He was downright furious. The tension between the two boys was thick enough to slice with a kunai.

Seeing the tension, Iruka recaptured everyone's attention, "Alright Naruto. You're here so please take your seat."

Naruto nodded way went on his way to sit between Ino and Hinata as usual. He looked at both girls who blushed and looked away shyly. During the class session, Iruka eyed Naruto questionably also. He knew that there was a lot more to the blonde youth than he let on. It was something he always suspected since he became Naruto's teacher and the event between the boy and the two S-class missing nins only served to add to his suspicions.

(Later)

It was lunch time and everyone was outside either eating or practicing. Meanwhile, Naruto was eating lunch by himself meditating on what Sarutobi told him about the Clan Restoration Act. Although Sandaime told him he didn't have to worry about marrying any girl anytime soon however, Naruto wondered if he should go through with marrying more than one girl or stick to one. He already knew that Hinata was betrothed to him though Hinata herself isn't aware of it and neither is Ino.

And speaking of Ino, Naruto wondered, Would she even consent to being married to me along with Hinata should I accept to go through to notion of marrying more than one female in order to restore the Namikaze Clan?

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