Chapter 22

Meanwhile.

"Are you serious?!" Sakura barked, pulling on the fluffy dog ears that she wore.

Dressed in a full-bodied dog costume, Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto wore fuzzy paws and shoes. The same color and tone as Pakkun's fur, this outfit was also worn by Kakashi, draped over his facemask.

Allowing each of their faces to poke out, Naruto's hairline protruded from his dog mask. Obscuring the Rinnegan eyes he possessed, Naruto's bangs hung to his fox-like whiskers.

Seated on the cushioned couch in Kakashi's living room, these Genin were visiting their teacher's apartment. Decorated with leaf-green walls and a various sliding doors, Kakashi's small room barely fit a couch, bed and desk.

Positioned in front of an opened window, sparkling sunlight shone in through glimmering glass. Resting below this window, dozens of neatly stacked boors were organized in alphabetical order.

"I kinda like it." Naruto murmured, squeezing his dog nose.

"How did you talk me into this?" Sasuke sighed.

"You look so adorable though!" Sakura giggled, wrapping one arm around Sasuke.

Interrupting this conversation, the front door was swung open before Anko strolled inside. Anko glared at her boyfriend with gawking eyes.

Instantly falling to the floor, Anko rolled from side-to-side, laughing with a snort-filled cackle. Scratching the back of his head in reply, Kakashi grumbled from beneath his mask.

"Welcome home dear." Kakashi spoke with a lowered face.

"You can't wear that to bed." Anko growled with a crooked smile.

"I'm training to teach them about teamwork." Kakashi stammered an excuse.

"You just wanted to fuck with them one last time. Before the exams." Anko chuckled, crawling to her feet.

Enthralled by this realization, Sakura pointed at Kakashi with an accusatory glare. Stomping one foot against the layered floor, Sakura's emerald eyes were basked by rays of sunlight.

"I knew this was fishy!" Sakura screamed, ripping her dog mask off.

"Why a dog though?" Naruto cut in.

"I haven't had the chance to explain the Summoning Jutsu yet..." Kakashi murmured.

"But I specialize in dogs." Dangling over his face, Kakashi's dog ears concealed his crimson Sharingan.

"Send them home, I've had a long dat." Anko snapped, walking through the room.

Approaching an ornate sliding door, Anko threw this surface opening before stomping into the bathroom. Turning the shower open, Anko stripped out from her clothes, allowing Sasuke to sneak a peek.

Choking on this sight, Sasuke's face turned blood red, garnishing the envious gaze of Sakura. Grabbing the hand of her Uchiha teammate, Sakura dragged Sasuke into the hall, running from sight.

"Is this it for the day?" Naruto asked, still sitting on the couch.

"Yea, Anko needs me." Kakashi lazily stroked his own chin.

Instead of replying with words, Naruto erupted into a puff of smoke, allowing his discarded dog costume to fall. Leaving his teacher in a startling moment of shock, Naruto disappeared with ease.

A shadow clone huh... Where is the real Naruto. Kakashi pondered.

"Hurry up already! Or I'm going to use my fingers!" Anko screeched from the shower, encouraging Kakashi to join her.

Meanwhile.

"So, you have a plan?" Hiruzen asked with a mouthful of smoke.

Strolling down the narrow dirt roads of Konoha, the 3rd Hokage and Naruto walked beside each other. Journeying through the outskirts of their village, these shinobi were basked by sunlight.

"I don't really know a lot about it..." Naruto admitted, rubbing the back of his head.

"But from what I've read, each exam is different from the last one." Naruto was met by a wide smile from Hiruzen.

"I believe you have the potential, so why not go forth with it and see what happens going forward Naruto." Hiruzen questioned.

"I think I will. I've been feeling more confident despite some of my own doubts but...I've got to make sure I keep moving forward and making the best of every opportunity I can.

Chuckling under his breath, the 3rd Hokage tilted his hat down, Veiled by swirling clouds from overhead, the rooftops of Konoha towered in the background.

"A most curious thing occurred the other day..." The 3rd Hokage changed the conversation.

"I received a file of paperwork, with your name on it." Muttering these words, Hiruzen expelled a cloud of smoke.

"Apparently, the Land of Waves has formed a shinobi academy, with Zabuza Momochi." Glancing at the ground, Hiruzen waited for a reply.

"I just didn't abandon them, ya' know? Like how Iruka didn't abandon me." Naruto murmured with timid words.

Reaching out, Hiruzen gently patted Naruto's vibrant hair, running one hand through his blond strands. As this occurred, this distant chirping of birds could be heard, polluting the wind.

"I know how you feel, you are gentle, you don't like pain." Hiruzen spoke with smoky breath.

"But if you cherish life, you must protect it." Cackling with each word, smoke poured from Hiruzen's nose.

"I...Protected them...The best I could..." Naruto remarked.

"That you did Naruto, I am proud of you for what you were able to do despite the circumstances. Hiruzen smiled in response.

Interrupted by the distinct screech of a fire hawk, this feathered bird soared through the sky. Calling the 3rd Hokage back to his office, this hawk shed a bundle of brown feathers

Staring at this soaring bird with concealed eyes, Naruto didn't notice the wandering gaze of Hiruzen. Catching a brief glimpse of Naruto's violet eyes, the 3rd Hokage pondered his place in life.

The power of the Sage of Six paths. Hiruzen internally was in shock.

But I know someone who can... Someone who's seen this power before... Trailing off, Jiraiya's face drifted through Hiruzen's mind.

"Aren't they calling you back, lord old man?" Naruto cut in, tearing the 3rd Hokage from his thoughts.

Yanking the wooden pipe from his mouth, Hiruzen displayed a wide and radiant smile. Stretching from ear-to-ear, this infectious grin soon spread to Naruto, framed by his pointy whiskers.

"Thank you for walking me home." Speaking with sincerity, Naruto threw a thumbs up.

"Of course, I always enjoy our time together." Hiruzen retorting, pulling his hand from Naruto's hair.

Erupting into a puff of smoke, Hiruzen's elderly jawline fell open, allowing his goatee to jut out. Shocked by Naruto's abrupt disappearance, Hiruzen just realized that he was talking to a clone.

"Naruto...You're something else aren't you..." Hiruzen merely chucked to himself before going on his way.

Meanwhile.

Defined by the snap of a wooden twig, Violet walked through the forests of Konoha. Strolling through the wooded outskirts, Violet held an ornate basket with both arms.

Eventually, this boy entered a large clearing, drawing attention to a massive crater in the center. Leaping across this crater with a Jounin-level display of the Body flicker technique.

Placing his basket in front of a maple tree, Violet enacted a shrine with some nearby rocks. Sliding onto both knees, he soon pulled his backpack off, resting it against the ground.

Raising both hands towards his face, this boy removed his glasses, exposing his vibrant Rinnegan. Before long, these eyes were obscured by a puff of smoke, revealing the whiskered face of Naruto.

Yanking a fancy tablecloth from his basket, Naruto spread this fabric across a patch of grass. Pinning this cloth in place with two rocks, Naruto pulled a smiling picture of Iruka from his basket.

Leaning forward, Naruto propped this picture between a shrine of rocks, illuminated by sunlight. Using Fire Style to ignite some incense, Naruto bowed his head in front of Iruka's picture.

Reaching into his basket for a third time, Naruto revealed two steaming hot bowls of ramen. Preparing one for himself, and another for Iruka, Naruto quietly smiled, completely alone in the forest.

Sliding one bowl in front of Iruka's picture, Naruto released a forced chuckle from his mouth. However, this emotion was quickly replaced by silence, forcing Naruto to downcast his face.

"Happy birthday, dad.." Naruto murmured.

"If only I could have helped you..." Stuttering these words, Naruto pulled both knees against his chest.

"I know how much you wanted to see the ocean." Changing the conversation, Naruto gripped his basket with both hands.

Dumping a pile of fresh sea-sails in front of Iruka's picture, Naruto shuffled through these objects with one hand. Picking up a sparkling red shell, Naruto raised this ornament towards the sky.

"There from a beach in the Land of Waves..." Talking to himself, Naruto once again fell into an awkward silence.

Thinking about to a favored song from his childhood, Naruto tightly clenched his pants with one hand. Twitching each of his shoulders, Naruto slouched down in front of Iruka.

"Leaves from the vine..." Mumbling a mouthful of words, Naruto struggled to speak.

"Falling so slow..." Repeating the same lullaby from his youth, Naruto glared at Iruka's picture.

"Like fragile, tiny shells... Drifting in the foam.." Each word reminded Naruto of everything he lost.

"Brave little soldier boy, so far from home..." Wiping the tears from his whiskers, Naruto could barely talk.

"Please... Please come home." A faint whisper escaped Naruto's mouth, burying his face into both hands.