Survival Exercises

At the end of the semester they received their grades. And as was traditional along with the grades they received their class rankings.

"I am so proud of you Naruto-kun!" Kushina grabbed her son and began planting kisses all over his face.

"Mom stop!" Naruto tried to sound indignant but she couldn't miss that very happy smile.

"My son, top in his class I am very, very proud of you. I'll tell you what, let's celebrate! Is there anything special you'd like to celebrate your achievement?" She saw his face light up and his mouth open. "Not a katana, ask for something else."

"But why can't I have a katana?" He whined.

"Because you're not ready for one." Kushina said plainly.

"When will I be ready?"

"When I say you are."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Stingy!"

She shook her head. "You're not getting a katana son, pick something else."

"Well can I have some of your special ramen?"

She hugged him and gave him three or four more kisses. "Now that you can have. I'll go ahead and make you all the special ramen you can eat!"

XXXXXXXXXX

Sasuke stood before his father as he looked at his son's academic report.

"History: second. Codes: second. Math: second. Taijutsu: second. Weapons: second. Endurance: third." Sasuke flinched at the very slight inflection his father added to that one word. "Over all standing: second." Fugaku looked down at his young son. "You disappoint me." Fugaku dropped the paper and walked away from him. Sasuke picked it up off the floor and slowly tore it up.

XXXXXXXXXX

Hinata stood stock still in front of her father. He was sitting behind his desk and carefully reviewing her report. Despite an overwhelming urge to press her fingers together she stood there with hands firmly to her side. Finally he looked up from the paper and at her. She prepared herself for another tongue lashing. "You were third." He said in a neutral tone.

"Yes father." She said in a small voice. She kept her face up. A Hyuga was not supposed to ever look away from the person addressing them. She waited in dread for what was coming.

"Given that you trail only an Uchiha and a Namikaze, I find your performance acceptable."

"You do?" She sounded relieved.

That immediately brought out a frown on her father's face. "Do not misunderstand me daughter." He said in a frosty tone. "You should be first in all things." He paused. "However, to trail members of the other two elite clans of this village is understandable." His eyes considered her, weighed her, and judged her. "You have improved Hinata, perhaps you will make a worthy clan head one day." The tone was no warmer but compared to what she was used to his words were welcome.

"Arigato father."

"You have been training recently with Naruto."

"Yes father."

"I wish you to spend more time training with him and following his regimen. I have spoken to Kushina-san and she welcomes your increased participation."

For the first time she could remember she wore a smile while in an audience with her father.

XXXXXXXXXX

The next morning Sasuke was on the asphalt outside the academy waiting patiently. He watched as Kushina and Kurenai delivered the pretender and his pet Hyuga. He snorted in contempt. He didn't need any help to get to and from the academy each day. Yet those two were always treated with kid gloves. He watched as Kushina and Kurenai departed and as the pretender and his little girlfriend started toward the academy hand in hand. He walked out to meet them coming to a stop directly in their path. Naruto and Hinata halted. Naruto looked at him with his usual air of confidence.

"Do you want something Sasuke?" Naruto said in that too chipper tone he always usedTo Sasuke it sounded more irritating than nails on a chalkboard. He clenched his fists.

"Fight me." As if by magic as soon those words were spoken all the kids in the courtyard began to gather around them.

Naruto just smiled. "Say what?"

"You heard me pretender. I want you to fight me right here and now."

Naruto's smile slowly grew. He let go of Hinata's hand and signaled her to step away. She looked at him a bit worried but did so and joined the circle of kids who were eagerly anticipating a fight. "Can't you wait until Friday? I'd be happy to kick your ass then."

"No more damn spars! I want a real fight! Come at me with everything you have and I'll show what an Uchiha can really do!"

Naruto's smile slipped and thinned and took on a little bit of a feral look to it. "If I did that Sasuke I'd kill you in about thirty seconds." With that he calmly began to saunter past the furious Uchiha.

"Don't turn your back on me!" On sheer instinct Sasuke pulled out a kunai and launched himself at Naruto's back.

Naruto felt killer intent and acted on his own instinct. Swinging back around he caught Sasuke's wrist with the kunai in it. With a hard twist he snapped it and the kunai dropped from the hand. Sasuke's rash move gave his body momentum, all Naruto did was add to it by pulling him forward. He stuck one leg out and tripped him, sending the proud Sasuke spilling to the ground. Immediately he twisted about to get back to his feet. He froze at the sight and feel of Naruto's blade at his throat. He could also feel Naruto's killer intent. Naruto was standing over him. Looking down Sasuke was the only one with a clear view of Naruto's face. He bit down to keep from gasping; Naruto's eyes were red and slitted like some animal's. Given the angle of his face Sasuke was the only one who could see it.

"Don't ever attack me again Sasuke!" Naruto's tone was low and fierce and very, very serious. "I'm not like you, I don't have time for stupid little playground brawls. When anyone attacks me for any reason my sword comes out. And when it comes out it draws blood. If you ever attack me again Sasuke you had better really mean it, because I might not be able to hold back. And while I have your full attention let me explain something to you. I don't give a damn that you're an Uchiha. As for you proving what you're capable of I can tell you what that is; second best. As long as I'm here that's all you'll be Sasuke so get used to it." He finally put his sword up. As Sasuke watched his eyes again became blue. He was sure that no one else had noticed. Even Naruto didn't seem to have realized it. With a thought Naruto ran his left palm over his blade slicing it open. He quickly wiped off his own blood and holstered his sword. With that he walked off towards the classroom. Sasuke lay there defeated and humiliated, with virtually the entire class to bear witness to it.

The entire class and a few more.

XXXXXXXXXX

Itachi saw the little encounter and nodded his head in approval. His foolish little brother had initiated an encounter with a foe that had beaten him regularly. He had done so expecting to win merely because he had Uchiha blood. That was typical of the attitude of the entire clan. They had given up trying to achieve individual excellence and instead relied on the comforting thought that they were superior merely due to birth. Such arrogance was dangerous and led to the sort of disaster his little brother had just encountered.

Now Naruto was different. He came from a great clan and had excellent blood as well. Yet Naruto refused to be satisfied merely with his legacy. He pushed himself mercilessly to achieve power and gain greater skill. He was too passionate. Like his mother he had never come to understand that emotions only fostered weakness. Yet his drive to succeed was truly impressive. You are very interesting Naruto-kun.

XXXXXXXXXX

Kushina smiled. For once her habit of performing protective surveillance had yielded something interesting. Sasuke was still a child trying to fight a playground fight. Naruto was becoming a ninja and fought like one whenever he was attacked regardless of the circumstances. He'd also had sufficient self control not to kill the pompous little Uchiha. Once he was inside she finally headed home well pleased.

XXXXXXXXXX

"He is sooo cool!" Ino practically shouted and the other girls all agreed.

XXXXXXXXXX

Hinata was by his side and looking at his left hand. "Naruto-kun, why did you hurt yourself?"

He gave her a comforting smile. "Oh, it's an Uzumaki clan tradition that once a sword is drawn in combat it cannot be holstered until it has drawn blood." He chuckled. "And as tempting as it was I didn't think it would be a good idea for me to cut that second best."

"But you've hurt yourself!" Hinata said worriedly.

He continued to smile. "Don't worry about it Hinata-chan. I always heal fast, by the time we get to class my wound should be closed up." And sure enough as they were sitting down a couple minutes later he showed her his left palm was no longer bleeding and almost completely healed.

Hinata was glad his hand was all right but she wondered about something. "Naruto-kun you shouldn't be able to heal that fast without using a medical jutsu."

Naruto just shrugged, not worried about it. "What can I tell you Hinata-chan, I've always healed fast."

Hinata considered that. "Naruto-kun, do you think you might have a blood line limit?"

He looked at her intrigued by the thought, but shook his head. "Nope, there are no blood line limits in either the Namikaze or Uzumaki clans."

Hinata nodded and let it go, at least for now.

XXXXXXXXXX

Iruka looked out at the class as they took their seats. They was quite a bit more conversation going on that usual. He noticed that Sasuke was the last one to arrive. To his surprise a few of his students were pointing to him and seeming to make some jokes. Sasuke sat down and pointedly ignored the attention he was receiving.

"All right class settle down please. I have an important announcement to make before we begin." He waited a moment for the kids to finally quiet. "All right class I have permission slips that all of you will have to bring home and have signed."

"What are they for Iruka-sensei?" Sakura asked.

Iruka gave them all a smile. "This weekend you will be going on your first field trip. We will be conducting a two day survival exercise in the woods outside the village."

"We're going outside the walls?" Kiba said excitedly.

Iruka nodded. "Yes we will, though it will only be a short distance away."

"Sounds troublesome," Shikamaru lifted his head from his desk. "Can't we just do this at one of the village training grounds?"

Iruka frowned at his worst student. "No, each of you will be placed in a separate section of forest and expected to find water, food, and shelter for 48 hours. None of the regular training grounds are large enough for our needs. None of you need to be concerned. Though we will be outside the village walls it will be quite safe."

XXXXXXXXXX

The man looked at the picture on his desk. The picture was about fifteen years old. It showed him standing beside his son. They had both been ninjas of the village hidden in the rock. The picture had been taken to celebrate his son's promotion to Chunin. He could still remember how proud he'd been of Hideki. The boy had always made him proud. Then two months later he'd died at the hands of the Yellow Flash. Now he was slowly becoming an old man with no son to carry on the family name. The Motosuwa clan would end with him. Well the Yellow Flash had died more than eight years ago. But the hatred and need for revenge hadn't. Nothing he could do could bring Hideki back. Nothing he could do would cause pain to Namikaze Minato who was beyond all earthy retribution now. But his hatred demanded that someone suffer.

"How sure are you of this information?" He asked his assistant.

"Our agents in Konoha confirm it. It seems reliable."

The man behind the desk nodded. All this would cost him was money, and he had plenty of that. "I want a two man ANBU squad sent out."

The assistant shook his head. "I'm afraid ANBU are not permitted to perform foreign missions unless they are at least of A-rank. This has received a ranking of B. We can use…"

"Send Yuzuki and Grella, they'll do it. The mission is herby upgraded to A-rank."

"But sir! We haven't had the funds cleared to pay for an A-rank!"

The older man frowned at his assistant's small mindedness. "I'll make up the difference myself."

His assistant stared at him. Typical bureaucrat he could never understand why anyone would want to go outside the rules. "Well sir if you're really willing to pay it I suppose we can assign them." The assistant paused a bit. "But sir if I may ask why bother? The target isn't even a ninja; he's just an academy student. Hiring ANBU to deal with him is a bit like hiring a master thief to pick up a wallet lying on the ground."

"I know he's a student. He also has the blood of a Hokage in his veins. Not to mention he is reputed to have mastered shadow clones and summoning."

"Sir that is a ridiculous rumor and likely to be nothing more than some child's wild imagination."

"He is reported to have killed a Chunin single handedly. Is that also imagination?"

"No sir, that was definitely confirmed, but perhaps he was lucky."

"Well he can have all the luck Kami is willing to share. Against those two he won't stand a chance. For that I'll pay any cost."

His assistant sighed. "I will do as you say sir, though I don't understand it."

"Ever have any children Fuji?"

"Uh, no sir."

"I won't bother trying to explain it then."

XXXXXXXXXX

"Survival exercises." Kushina looked at the permission slip unhappily.

"Yeah mom! This will be my very first time going outside the village walls." He said excitedly.

"No."

"What?"

"I said no Naruto-kun you aren't going." Kushina said simply.

"But everyone else is going!"

She lifted an eyebrow. "Naruto-kun I don't care about everyone else. I only care about you and you are not going."

"But we're only going ten miles and it will only be for two days! Why can't I go?"

"Simple, because ten miles means ten minutes before I can reach you if anything happens. That's too long, too much can happen in that much time."

"But mom you know I can take care of myself."

"You can Naruto-kun, that doesn't mean we should court danger."

"Oh come on mom! I mean if it's safe enough for Shikamaru how can it be too dangerous for me?"

"Naruto-kun for you stepping outside this village means being in greater danger." She said flatly

"So the very first time I ever go outside the village walls even a step will be on my first mission? Mom, you're always saying I need to be ready for anything. How does keeping me so close do that? Wouldn't it be better for me to get experience being outside the village nowinstead of later when I will a shinobi with a squad?"

She frowned at him. That made a distressing amount of sense. Looked at rationally of course he should see what it was like going outside the village sooner than his first mission. And it wasjust an academy field trip. Maybe I am just too worried about him. I have to let him experience new things in order to grow.

Seeing her hesitate Naruto gave her a big confident smile. "Come on mom I promise to be careful and to call you if there's anything wrong at all."

She sighed and slowly nodded. "All right Naruto-kun, I suppose it will be all right so long as you are careful." Taking a pen she signed her name to the paper.

XXXXXXXXXX

Itachi waited patiently as the door to his father's study opened. Three very angry looking members of the police force exited. They each sent him an angry look but departed the house without a word.

Fugaku looked at his son and heir. "Please come into my study Itachi."

Itachi did so. His father shut and locked the door. "Sit down."

"I prefer to stand." Itachi answered calmly.

Fugaku frowned. "Very well." He sat down behind his desk. "Itachi do you know anything about the drowning of Shisui?"

"No." Itachi remained utterly calm.

I can't read him at all. He might as well be a complete stranger. "Shisui left behind a suicide note but there is suspicion that his death was a murder."

"I am the suspect." Again there was no emotion at all.

Fugaku nodded once. "Despite our recent disagreements son I have no wish for you to risk execution for something that may not have been your fault."

Itachi eyed him intently. "You are not certain of my innocence. You believe I may indeed be his killer." It was not an accusation just a statement.

"I do not know what to believe. Your behavior recently has been erratic. Shisui had been assigned to follow you. Last night when he was killed you were the only clan member not attending the formal meeting. Thus you are the only clan member without an alibi for the time of Shisui's death."

Itachi frowned slightly. "And only an Uchiha could possibly manage to kill another Uchiha?" He shook his head. "That sort of circular logic is what is reducing this clan to idiocy."

Fugaku frowned. "It is statements like thatwhich have made people wonder about you. You are the pride of the Uchiha clan and its most powerful member. Why must you constantly insult and degrade the clan and the immense value of Uchiha blood?"

"Because you all insist that being an Uchiha is the end point rather than a starting point. We should each seek out our own path and seek to accomplish as much as possible. This self assurance we are mired in erodes individual initiative and drive."

Fugaku shook his head. "Uchiha blood is the best in the entire world, never mind Konoha. There is nothing wrong in being proud of the fact and acknowledging it." He sighed. "But that is not important now. What is important is the fact that you are under suspicion. I have used my influence to have the police to agree to a short delay in the proceedings while they gather more evidence. But you have no more than a few days." He brought his hands together before his face. "I think it would be best for you to leave the village."

Itachi stared at his father for a moment. "You wish me to become a missing nin?" His voice was dead and empty.

"For a few years only. After which I shall arrange a pardon with the Hokage." He leaned back in his chair. "If you will perform one service for me prior to leaving Konoha."

"Who do you wish me to kill?" Itachi did not mean that as a joke.

Fugaku did not take it as a joke. "Namikaze Naruto."

Itachi lifted one eyebrow. "You want me to kill the Namikaze clan heir? And you expect me to believe that once I do so you will be able to arrange a pardon for me?" Itachi allowed just the tiniest bit of mockery to lace his words.

"Once Naruto is dead no one will regret it."

"Except his mother." Itachi pointed out.

"Once Naruto is gone she won't last very long." Fugaku spoke with a grim certainty.

Itachi eyed his father with a hint of interest. "Indeed, you do realize you are speaking of exterminating one of Konoha's greatest clans?"

"I think destroying this clan would be a benefit to the entire village."

"I shall remember you said that." Itachi promised.

"Kushina is not your concern. Will you do as I ask?"

"Perhaps, but first I wish to know the reason you and so many others are so eager to spill his blood."

Fugaku frowned. "The reasons are irrelevant. It should be enough that I ask it of you and that doing so will be in your own best interest."

"In that case my answer is no."

"Itachi why should you care about the reasons behind this?"

"If I am to kill not only a clan heir but a promising ninja I wish to know the reasons for it."

Fugaku eyed his son with frustration. He has more potential than anyone else of his generation. Why must he insist on being difficult even now? "Very well, I will tell you the secret. In doing so I am breaking a law of the Sandaime's. The punishment for breaking this law is death. I trust you understand the seriousness of the matter?"

Itachi nodded, he found himself to now be quite curious. "I do."

"Very well, to put it simply Naruto is the Kyuubi."

Itachi did not show it but he was truly surprised. He had theorized quite a few reasons why Naruto might be hated but he had never come up with that one. He stood there and listened quietly as his father explained fully.

"And so that is why Naruto is hated and why killing him is a service to this entire village. Once he and his bitch of a mother are dead and buried you will be welcomed back with open arms. Now then, will you do as I ask?"

Itachi frowned slightly. "I have never heard of any evidence of demonic possession in his behavior. He has a source of great power within him which he seems well capable of controlling. Would the village not be better off aiding him in mastering his power rather than trying to destroy him?"

His father stared at him. "I have to remind myself that while I and others of our clan were out fighting that monster you were safe here in the village. If you had ever seen the nine tail fox you would have no doubts about killing it while there is still time. Now will you do as I ask?"

Itachi considered it. "Perhaps."

His father shut his eyes and ground his teeth. "Even now, with the future of the village and your own life at stake you insist on being difficult!"

"I am not attempting to be difficult. The simple fact is I have not decided whether or not to kill him."

"All right son I know how useless it is to argue with you but keep this in mind; in a few days you will be arrested if you are still within this village. Once you are arrested I will wash my hands of you. Should you flee this village I will again wash my hands of you unless you do as I ask. Is that clear?"

"It is father." With that Itachi left his father's study.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Hey Naruto! I hardly recognize you without your cloak on." Kiba greeted him. It was early Saturday morning and the class was gathering on the courtyard. As per instructions they had not brought any camping equipment or food with them and they each carried only one canteen of water. They were allowed to bring with them only weapons and the standard ninja equipment any shinobi would be expected to have with him at any time. Currently Naruto was dressed in the same black and red bodysuit he always wore beneath his cloak.

"I'll only wear that when I am in the village. I won't be wearing it when I'm on missions or leave the village."

"They wouldn't let me bring any snacks!" Chouji cried out. "I'm going to starve!"

"Chouji, it's impossible to starve in just two days." Shikamaru said.

"But what am I supposed to do when I get hungry? I have to eat or I'll pass out from hunger."

"Don't worry Chouji there are plenty of grub worms in the forest and if you cook them over an open fire they taste just like chicken!" Naruto said. As soon as he said it Chouji Put his hands over his mouth and tried to stop his dry heaves. Shikamaru smirked and Kiba laughed long and hard.

"Naruto-kun that was awful!" Hinata chided.

He gave her his puppy dog look and then turned to Chouji. "I'm sorry Chouji."

"It's o.k." he said weakly.

Naruto smiled at him. "It's actually beetles that taste like chicken." Chouji's hands went back to his mouth and Kiba howled. Hinata crossed her arms over her chest and gave Naruto a look that clearly said, 'what am I going to do with you?'

XXXXXXXXXX

Under Iruka's and Mizuki's watch they left Konoha and made their way to a section of forest that had been set aside for the exercises. Each student was taken to a different section of forest and told to remain there until 8 a.m. Monday morning. Each student was left alone and was expected to manage on his own.

As soon as Iruka dropped him off he got to work. Creating twenty shadow clones he set out hacking down tree limbs to build a shelter, looking for a water source, and hunting. In short order he had a rough but efficient hut set up, a small spring found, and a campfire with a nice fat rabbit cooking over it. Finding the rabbit had been the easiest part. He seemed to have a natural gift for it. He didn't know about the other students but he was sure to have no trouble managing a couple of days. Having eaten he took a little time to just enjoy the rather unique experience of being on his own for once. He had never been on his own for any extended time. For once there was no one nearby who was watching out for him, no one was responsible for him. For the next, he checked his watch, forty six hours or so he was on his own. He smiled and looked up at the blue sky

XXXXXXXXXX

"Boo."

"Eek!" Hinata dropped the branches she'd been gathering and instinctively jumped around bringing her hand around for a palm strike.

He blocked her hand easily enough and gave Hinata one of his big smiles. "Gee Hinata-chan; I thought you'd be happy to see me."

"Naruto-kun! What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "I was bored and I wanted to see you."

"But how did you find me?"

He smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, well I just searched the area until I spotted you. By the way I'm about four miles that way."

She stared at him. "Naruto-kun you can't be here!"

"Why not?"

"If Iruka or Mizuki-sensei find out you'll be in trouble!"

"Hinata-chan they're not going to check up on us. The whole point of this exercise is for us to survive on our own."

"But Naruto-kun if you help me that will be cheating."

He looked around. Hinata had put together a shelter, had a fire going and looked to have gathered a good number of roots and herbs. "I don't think you need any help Hinata-chan, I never thought you would." She smiled and felt pleasure from his simple praise. "I was just bored and wanted to hang out with you."

"Oh." Her smile grew and she began to blush just a little.

He shrugged. "If you want me to go Hinata-chan I guess I'll find Kiba or Shikamaru."

She reached out and took a hold of his hand. "No Naruto-kun, you are always welcome." He smiled and relaxed the way he always did around her.

XXXXXXXXXX

He got back to his own camp a little more than an hour before sunset. He rebuilt the fire and found another rabbit for dinner. After another tasty meal he watched as the sun set over the forest. It had been one of the best days of his whole life. And as he stood there looking at the setting sun he felt the tiniest bit of a chakra signature behind him. Casually he put one hand in his belt by the switch for his radio communicator. He slowly turned around.

Seeing who was there he pressed the button down into the send position. "Hello Itachi-kun."

"Hello Naruto-kun." A calm voice answered.