2.JOINING THE KONOHA SHINOBI ACADEMY

NARUTO UZUMAKI,

FIVE YEARS OLD,

APARTMENT OF NARUTO.....

"They were wrong!" said a emotional Naruto with tears in his eyes.

"Naruto!!!?" asked a startled Hiruzen in concern and confusion due the latter's response.

"My parents loved me!" Naruto wiped his tears and continued his emotional outburst, "The other kids at the orphanage... they used to say to me that I was an abandoned and unwanted child... that my parents never loved me... One day I even heard the matron talking with the others that my parents abandoned me because I was a nuisance and an unwanted child. Since that day... I... I didn't want to believe in them... but deep down with each passing day and after noticing the behaviour of others towards me I started believing them... I started believing in them... I thought that my parents might have really abandoned me.... that... that I really am an unwanted child.... but thanks to you now... I know that... I wasn't an unwanted child... I was loved by my parents... that they loved me so much that they were ready to die for me... thank.... thank you..... thank you very much jiji!" said Naruto with tears of joy and in-between sobs.

Hiruzen hugged the sobbing Naruto and tried to do everything to comfort him.

With years of pent-up emotions and happiness coming out of him, all of a sudden Naruto felt overwhelmed and fell asleep on Hiruzen's lap sobbing. Hiruzen then picked Naruto up and put him on the bed. Naruto for the first time in his small life slept with a peaceful smile. His parents had loved him. They didn't abandoned him. They died trying to protect him from the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox.

"Boar! I want a full investigation on the matron and the staff members of the orphanage on their treatment towards young Naruto. And if they are found guilty make sure that Ibiki shows them my displeasure thoroughly." Hiruzen ordered Boar with a sadistic glee.

Boar nodded in affirmative and shivered at the coldness in the tone of the Hokage. Ibiki and Anko are going to be very happy and the culprits are going to regret their decisions for the rest of their life.

Time passed and Naruto studied and trained by himself in shuriken jutsu using stones, taijutsu from books he obtained from his jiji, etc to better prepare himself for the Shinobi academy.

During this time, Naruto and Hiruzen develop a bond. Naruto started trusting Hiruzen like his own grandfather and Hiruzen also started seeing Naruto as his own grandson.

The Hokage occasionally, at the blond's request, have started taking Naruto to Ichiraku's ramen stall. There they will talk with each other and Hiruzen will recite him the deeds of all of the past Hokages. He had visited Ichiraku's ramen shop before, when the matron would give some money to all the orphans to spend during the Fourth's Festival. Back then he didn't knew why it was celebrated. But now he knew. It was celebrated in honour of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze who saved the village from the attack of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox.

During the festival Naruto had tried to enter many shops. He wanted to buy something but none of the shopkeeper had allowed to purchase him anything from their shops except for the owner of Ramen Ichiraku old man Teuchi. He was kind enough to call him inside his shop unlike the other shopkeepers. Teuchi had further shown his kindness to Naruto by offering the blond another bowl of ramen for no money when Naruto had finished eating his purchased bowl of ramen. The ramen was also tasty. From that day onwards the Ramen Ichiraku had become Naruto's favourite shop and the ramen his favourite meal.

Out of all of the Hokages, Naruto came to admire the Fourth Hokage the most for defeating the Nine-Tails and protecting the village, single handedly, albeit at the cost of his life. Still, it made the Fourth Hokage no less powerful. It gave birth to another desire in Naruto. Now he not only wanted to become the next Hokage but also surpass all of the previous Hokage specially the Fourth Hokage.

During this time, Naruto constantly visited Hiruzen and tried to make him spill the name of his parents but the aged Hokage stood firmly on his ground and avoided the questions like a plague. And the villagers began to ostracize the blond even more as they became worried thinking that the Nine-Tails had somehow managed to deceive their beloved Third Hokage and is manipulating him, taking advantage of his goodwill. So they started ostracizing Naruto. They thought that if they ostracise the demon enough then it might shows its true colours and eventually, it would open the eyes of their aged Hokage to see what that thing really is, a vile demon.

This developments prompted Naruto in to develop a very diabolical and destructive hobby for himself called "PRANKS". This was the only way he could get even with the villagers for their baised behaviour, injustice and unfair treatments against him. It also allowed him to get some of their recognition, even if it was Negative and not to mention, pranks were funny and hilarious.

This also led him to another question, Why he was hated so much by the villagers? He had inquired his jiji about this several times but each time all he could get in response from him is, Naruto, the villagers don't understand you and people fear what they don't understand. I know this is very difficult for you, but you have to be patient. I am sure that the villagers will definitely accept you one day as one of their own. You just have to show them that they were wrong to treat you that way. Please forgive those fools for me, and give them another chance!

It sometimes wavers his conviction and makes him question his decisions like Are they really worth protecting? Why must he had to protect them when he becomes a Shinobi when all he could get in exchange for protecting them is their contempt?, etc.

Everytime, whenever these questions plagues his mind he goes to the Hokage Mountain and sits over the top of his hero's head and gazes over the village. It looks beautiful and helps him clear his mind from those substandard thoughts.

ONE

YEAR LATER,

KONOHAGAKURE,

APARTMENT OF NARUTO...

An entire year has passed since he met the old man and he still hasn't managed to make him spill the name of his parents. The old man turns into a wall of steel whenever he tries to dig for some information regarding his parents.

Today Naruto was very upset because he saw some children celebrating their birthdays with their parents. The care those parents showed towards their children, it hurts and made him envy and a little jealous of those children for their luck. They had everything, a loving father and mother who were ready to do anything for their happiness, even die just like his deceased parents.

His parents. The thought made the blond frown. Don't take him wrong. Of course he is proud of his parents for their ultimate sacrifice, of the fact that they died fighting the Nine-Tails to protect him. But couldn't they have somehow just avoided the battle altogether or waited a little longer until the arrival of the Fourth Hokage on the battlefield? And then the Fourth Hokage would have defeated the Nine-Tails single-handedly just like jiji have described the fight. They would not have died on that fateful day and he would have been living happily with them together as a happy family. On top of that he couldn't even pay respects to them for their sacrifice because he didn't even know their names, the old man wouldn't budge no matter how many times he tries to make him spill their names.

These thoughts were tormenting the mind of young Naruto, when suddenly a voice jolted him awake out of his thoughts, "Can I come in?"

"Yes jiji!" Naruto replied recognising the voice.

The Third Hokage came inside and gave the blond an envelope and said, "This is for this month's living expenses. Spend it wisely Naruto!"

"Hey jiji! Why don't I have a mom and dad?" asked Naruto.

The Third Hokage responded as usual repeating the same answer once again, "Didn't I tell you before? Although it was quite some time ago..."

But Naruto interrupted him, "That's not what I want to hear! You are talking about when that beast called Nine-Tailed Demon Fox ran amuck, right? Well that's not what I am asking about. I just want to know... Who were my parents? What kind of people were they? What were their names?" He screamed.

"There's no use asking about them Naruto. It will not bring back the dead. You should look ahead towards the future." the Third Hokage replied. He tried to cheer him up, "Naruto! Prepare yourself for the Konoha Academy. I am going to enroll you there in a month's time. You can make lots of friends there and have fun in the academy. You can hang out with them. They will play with you and you will learn many new things about being a shinobi at the academy. You will take your first step towards your dream of becoming the next Hokage of Konohagakure. Aren't you happy?"

"Yeaah jiji! I am happy!" replied Naruto, still in a deflated voice.

The Third Hokage ruffled Naruto's hair and exited his apartment to return back to fight the bane of every kage, the greatest evil incarnate, the undefeated paperwork.

NARUTO

UZUMAKI,

SIX YEARS OLD,

KONOHAGAKURE

SHINOBI ACADEMY,

INAUGURATION CEREMONY...

The Konoha Shinobi Academy is a huge building in Konohagakure located directly at the base of the Hokage Mountain near the Hokage Residence. It's building can be identified by the giant sign with the kanji for "fire" (火) on it. It is where prospective ninja are trained and where official ninja receive their assignments.

At the Shinobi Academy, all of the would-be-Genins of various age groups have gathered together in the training yard of the academy with their parents, be it from the civilian families or Konoha clans. Several Chūnins teachers on the orders of the headmaster have been managing the crowd. All of them are waiting for the arrival of the Third Hokage to conduct the inauguration ceremony.

Today the Third Hokage is going to deliver the inauguration speech to those young ones, who will eventually become the inheritors of the Will of Fire, the future generation of Shinobi of Konohagakure.

The parents were also waiting for the arrival of the Third Hokage. They were all talking and conversing with each other about how their children were going to prove their strengths to the village and become an awesome and famous shinobi just like the Fourth Hokage, some were arguing with the others over whom among there child is going to be the better shinobi. The atmosphere was pleasant and cheerful until the arrival of village pariah, Naruto Uzumaki and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. The parents and academy staff started whispering among themselves in a suppressive manner so as not to anger the aged Hokage.

"It's that boy! The one responsible for Lord Fourth's death." said one of the bystanders in a suppressed tone.

"What the hell is he doing here?" another one whispered.

"Why the heck Lord Third has brought that menace here of all places? Isn't it enough that, it lives with us?" The one on the right said.

"That boy ain't got the right to step in with his filthy feet past the village doorway, let alone in the Academy?" said another one.

"Do you think...?"

"There's no way Lord Third is going to allow that de-thing, who have killed so many of our friends and family to enter the Konoha Academy with our children no less. It should be dead. The Nine-Ta...." said a fat man

"Shhhhh...They are here, so just shut up before Lord Third decides to punish you. Remember the law, it's forbidden to talk about it." someone warned the fat man.

Naruto arrived at the front gate of the academy with the Third Hokage. Some academy teachers were standing around the stage, it looks like they are waiting for the Third Hokage's arrival. He guessed correctly. He then looked at the Third Hokage and then without wasting any more time, he confidently went inside. There, he noticed all the kids were around his age group and standing in several group, facing the stage. It looks like he can finally make some friends. He smiled. He also noticed that behind the kids, their parents and family members are trying to stay calm, some of the adults were giving him dirty glares. He didn't paid them much attention as he walked towards the stand in the last line of the students in the back.

A few minutes later, the Third Hokage arrived at the stage with a dramatic Body Flicker Technique, gaining all of the people's attention.

With renewed vigour, they welcomed their beloved Hokage and as usual Naruto with bitterness and suppressed rage. The Hokage greeted them back from the stage with a smile.

"Attention everyone!" Daikoku Funeno, the chunin academy instructor said, trying to gain everyone's attention, "Please assemble in a group of four! We are about to start today's event, the Konoha Academy Inauguration Day."

"All of you students please knock it off and give the headmaster and Hokage a professional impression of yourselves!" Bekko, another academy teacher berated, "You all are going to be the future ninjas of this village as such please behave professionally!"

That got them to quiet down and pay attention up front on the stage.

"You certainly have a way with words Bekko!" Hiruzen remarked with a chuckle. Bekko scratched the back of his head with a small grin in embarrassment and said, "Nah! I just want to help them become the best of the ninjas our village can ever produce."

"Such modesty!" the headmaster commented as he made his way over to Iruka and Hiruzen. The headmaster himself was used to be an A-Class Jōnin ninja. The Headmaster then addressed the Third Hokage and said, "I am honored that you chose to attend today's event despite your very busy schedule Lord Hokage." the headmaster addressed the Third Hokage.

"Well! Even I need a break from all of the paperworks. Besides I personally wanted to interact with these young ones who will eventually inherit the Will of Fire. Afterall, the future of our village will rest on their shoulders. So it is important that I show them the right path and make sure that they doesn't waver from it. It is a leader's duty, isn't it?"

"Indeed Lord Hokage!" replied the Headmaster.

The Hokage then gave the inauguration speech. He also answered all of the questions, doubts and problems related to shinobi life of each student, individually.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage for honouring us with your gracious presence and showering your eternal wisdom on us." the headmaster thanked the Hokage with his smooth tongue and stepped forward to address the students, "Now you may understand a little what it truly means to become a Shinobi. It is not a life of niceties but a life full of hardships and challenges. The shinobi academy will not only prepare you physically but also mentally to face those challenges and hardships, and prevail over them. I truly believe that you all have the potential to become the best shinobis of this village. So make sure that you give your best and become the kind of shinobi we all could be proud of!"

All of the students nodded their heads in postive and chorused, "Yes! We will become the best shinobis".

"The academy will not only evaluate your progress as future ninjas but also help you better assess your strongest and weakest points. Then we will work on strengthening these weaknesses of yours and remedy them. So follow the advice of your teachers with full devotion and be an obedient student. Then only the instructors of the academy can help you become the best shinobi. Do you understand?" The headmaster of the Academy concluded the speech.

"Yeah!" chorused throughout the academy.

The instructors of the academy then distributed the shinobi gears to every students that have enrolled in the academy and gave them their roll numbers, class, routine and timetable. Afterwards the headmaster ended the ceremony.

One by one, the children then subsequently left the academy with their parents and respective guardians.

Naruto was overjoyed because the white-haired Mizuki Sensei had given him the best gears, they are shiny and beautiful, the books were new and have lots of pictures, and on top of that he gave them all of these things with a smile without scowling. So Mizuki has managed to fool Naruto with his fake smile and forced good behaviour, and Naruto being desperate to gain the attention of somebody other than his jiji got fooled by the white-haired backstabbing snake. As a result, Naruto had put Mizuki in his good guy list, unaware of the grave danger that Mizuki would put him through one day.

Naruto also left the academy with the Third Hokage. Outside the Shinobi Academy, the Hokage apologised to Naruto, saying that he is very busy and have used all his free time to attend the Shinobi Enrollment Ceremony. So today, he didn't have any free time left in his schedule hence he couldn't celebrate his enrollment in the Shinobi Academy with him. The blond was a little unhappy but he had seen the bundles of paperwork his jiji have to finish everyday so he understands therefore he allowed the Hokage to leave and go finish the damned paperwork. The Hokage smiled and ruffled Naruto's hair. He then gave the blond some money and asked him to celebrate his enrollment in the Shinobi Academy however he likes. The blond then decided to go to Ramen Ichiraku and celebrate his enrollment in the shinobi academy with old man Teuchi, big sister Ayame and his favourite Miso Ramen with extra chasu.