Chapter 18

"I have summoned you all here for a special purpose." Hiruzen spoke out, leaking smoke with each word.

Seated behind his desk, Hiruzen was assembled inside the Hokage office. Gazing out across a crowd of Konoha ninja, Hiruzen pulled his hat down, covering his face.

"So soon? I thought we had more time." Kakashi cut in, reading from his orange book.

"It makes sense. I've already noticed some foreign shinobi in the village." Asuma exclaimed, defined by a lit cigarette in his mouth.

Adorned with a full-bodied dark blue jumpsuit, this attire was restrains by Asuma's flak jacket. Drawing attention to his pencil thin beard, Asuma's spiky black hair jutted into view, held in place by his Konoha headband.

"When do we start?" A 26 year old kunoichi interrupted, narrowing each of her crimson eyes.

Known as Kurenai, this freshly promoted Jounin wore a long-sleeved white tunic, opened in the front. A perfect match for her skin tight white pants, this fabric deeply contrasted Kurenai's black sandals.

Revealing the bandages that clung to her mesh-covered chest, Kurenai's most prominent feature was her shoulder-length black hair. Also, an endless array of bandages were wrapped across her petite fists. .

"We shall begin in one week." Hiruzen replied, exhaling a gust of smoke.

"That's pretty short notice, me and my team just got back to the village this morning." Kakashi slurred, snapping his book shut.

"Exactly one week from today... The Chunin Exams will begin." Hiruzen declared, answered by a chorus of nods.

"So now, we must choose our candidates for the exam... I must question the rookies first." Smoking as he spoke, Kakashi, Asuma and Kurenai all strolled in front of Hiruzen.

"As you know, if a Genin has fulfilled eight or more missions, their eligible for graduation." Leaking smoke from his nose, Hiruzen squinted both eyes.

Instilled by a brief silence, Kakashi dramatically sighed before raising his hand. Capturing the attention of his peers, Kakashi quietly hid his orange book from view.

"I lead team 7. Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno… And I recommend all three for the Chunin Exams." Kakashi murmured.

There's no way that... Creature... Should be allowed in! Ebisu panicked, focused on the transparent memory of Naruto.

"And I lead team 8." Kurenai spoke out, disrupting Ebisu's thoughts.

"Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame… I recommend all three." Inspired by these words, Ebisu gasped.

"And my team is number 10. Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi… I recommend all three." Asuma proclaimed.

"Hold on just a minute!" Ebisu blurted out, stomping his foot in protest.

"Lord Hokage with all respect, many of these names are descend from powerful and reknown clans..." Pushing his classes up, Ebisu stood at attention.

"But that child! Naruto! He's gone far enough! He never should've been a shinobi!" Shouting what everyone thought, Ebisu created an awkward silence.

Leisurely glancing over his shoulder, Kakashi's visible eye became focused on Ebisu's stricken face. Brought into a brief staring contest, these Jounin glared at each other.

"When I became a Chunin, I was six years younger than Naruto." Kakashi replied, defending his student.

Clenching his fists in protest, Ebisu punched the side of a nearby wall, rustling the framed pictures of former Hokage. As this occurred, Kakashi held both hands in the pocket of his pants.

"But that child is nothing like you!" Ebisu argued.

"Tha-... That thing is an insult to Konoha!" Earning several repressed murmurs in agreement, Ebisu held no respect for Naruto.

Displaying a wide smile in response, Kakashi's abrupt shift forced Ebisu to swell with confusion. Waving a dismissive hand through the air, Ebisu pointed at Kakashi with an accusatory glare.

"I guess you didn't read that report I turned in..." Kakashi casually scoffed. non-chalantly.

"Because if you did... You'd understand that Naruto saved my life." Speaking with sincerity, Kakashi winked at his fellow Jounin.

"He was able to defeat Zabuza Momochi, the demon in the mist, could you say the same?" Shocked by Kakashi's revelation, Ebisu's jawline hit the floor.

"Allowing your student to surpass you already." The youth-filled voice of Might Guy spoke out, displaying a snow white smile.

A 26 year old shinobi, Guy had fair-skin and sparkling black hair, cut in a uniquely-styled bowl cut. A perfect match for his full-bodied green jumpsuit, Guy wore an opened flak jacket.

Contrasting the rest of his attire, Guy's most distinguishable feature were his orange-striped leg warmers. Drawing attention to his blue shinobi shoes, Guy confidently strolled beside his rival.

"Looks like youth is leaving you behind." As Guy spoke, he put up a thumbs up.

"Well I for one am bursting with youth!" Screeching with vigor, Guy accidently kicked the nearby wall. Collapsing this wooden surface with ease, Hiruzen grumbled before pulling his hat down.

He hasn't changed one bit. Hiruzen internally sighed.

Just like the Academy... Asuma and Kurenai both thought in unison.

"Guy! Have some respect! We're in the presence of the 3rd Hokage!" Ebisu pleaded.

"We were taking about Naruto! He's shown no proof of his abilities." Arguing with his childhood Genin teammate, Ebisu stepped in front of Guy.

Chuckling in response, Guy used one hand the grip the side of his stern waist. Displaying a bright white smile, Guy's teeth glimmered like starlight, illuminating his face.

"Actually... One of my students ran into Naruto a few years ago..." Guy spoke with a wide smile, drifting into distant memories.

-Flashback-

Crouched behind a dense array of foliage, Guy was hiding atop a sun-baked tree branch. Gazing out across a grass-filled clearing, Guy was focused on the distant outline of a 10 year old Rock Lee.

"If I can't do a thousand squats... Then it's a thousand punches!" Lee shrieked, dripping sweat with each word.

A training student from the Konoha Academy, Lee had ear-length spiky hair, jutting out in various directions. Contrasting his fair skin, Lee wore a button-covered tan shirt, complete with long sleeves.

Drawing attention to his dirt-stained blue pants, this tattered fabric was a perfect match for Lee's sandals. Drenched with sweat and poorly-dried, each squat sent of shockwave of pain through Lee's body.

I can't believe he's still at it. Guy awed, watching Lee train for over eight hours straight.

"Oh... Sorry, I didn't think anyone else was out here." A 9 year old Naruto cut in.

Scratching the whiskers that framed his pale skinned face, Naruto's loose and shaggy hair came into view. Exposing his sky blue eyes, Naruto were a short-sleeves orange shirt with blue shirt, matching his sandals.

"Do you mind If I get some training done? I need to work on my chakra control." Speaking with a timid tone, Naruto held a basket of food in one hand.

Instead of responding with words, Lee's stomach erupted into a loud chorus of rumble. Forcing each of these ninja to laugh, Naruto quickly offered Lee some sushi.

"Ooh." Lee squealed, stuffing with mouth with fish and rice.

"L-... Lee! Rock Lee!" Struggling to introduce himself, Lee spoke with a mouthful of food.

"Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki." Gleefully shaking his new friends hand, Naruto briefly chuckled.

Usually, Naruto was forced to flee or hide from most villagers, and their children. But Lee didn't share that hatred, because most villagers mocked him the same way they mocked knocked.

Lee was a loser, he was a complete dork with absolutely no strengths or advantages. The only thing Lee had was his determination, the driving will to never give up or back down.

"Fr-... Friend?!' Lee choked on his food, extending a friendly hand to Naruto.

Shaking this hand with a second thought, Naruto swelled with joy, adding a new friend to his rare collection. Met by a snow-white smile from Lee, his teeth sparkled like diamonds.

"You said Iruka made those for you... Are you from the Academy as well?" Questioning his new friend, Lee earned a nod of approval.

"Join me, Naruto! If we train together, we'll be sibling students!" Screeching with vigor, Lee instantly started to squat.

"I want to show I can be a splendid Shinobi as well - even if I don't have Genjutsu or Ninjutsu!" Displaying a thumbs up, Naruto was shocked by Lee's declaration.

He can't use Genjutsu or Ninjutsu? But that just leaves Taijutsu. Naruto repeated internally.

"I will work hard and I will never give up... Because that is my ninja way!" Lee shouted, filling Naruto with the transparent memory of Iruka.

After all, a student inherits their Ninja way from their teacher, isn't that right, Naruto? Iruka's questioned echoed through Naruto's mind.

Without another moment of delay, Naruto and Lee both erupted into a fierce collaboration of training. Watched over by the distant outline of Guy, this elite Jounin hummed with curiosity.

-Flashback ends-

"Guy, pay attention!" Ebisu declared.

"You haven't changed one bit since the Academy, but we aren't Genin anymore." As he spoke, Ebisu pushed his glasses up.

"We are discussing that child Naruto Uzumaki! He hasn't even been punished for stealing the forbidden scroll!" After speak, Ebisu was startled by Hiruzen's stern glare.

"He hasn't been punished..." Hiruzen repeated the same words, leaking smoke from his mouth.

"What about Iruka? Dying in front of him? Is that not punishment?" Left in a silence by this statement, Ebisu bowed his head with regret.

"That child you so easily mocked has done more for this village than I could possibly dream." Humbling himself, Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe.

An orphan child since birth, Naruto was constantly judged for the demon inside of him. But one man constantly came to Naruto's defense, the 3rd Hokage, otherwise known as Hiruzen.