Naruto spent his spare time training and hanging out with his new friends. He helped Mito with her Taijutsu, helped Choji with his chakra control for his family jutsu, but his favorite time was playing shogi with Shikamru. The boy was secretly a genius. He had only beaten him a few times. Something about watching the Nara strategize made his face feel warm.
Over the last few weeks Naruto had learned much from his friends about the village. Mito told him of the near destruction of their clan. How Sasuke's father died in the fighting, which explained a lot about the other boy's attitude to being the strongest.
He learned about the Aburame clan, which Naruto thought was fascinating. Fighting with insects was super cool. Shino, the boy in his class was quiet and reserved but answered all of Jinchurki's questions. Shikamru was shocked to see the wanna be Shinobi was now hanging out with them regularly.
Walking out of the academy Naurto looked at his friends, "Any of you want to come over and train with me?"
"No. I must good home immediately. I am sorry." Naruto smiled at Shinobi and nodded.
Mito shrugged, "I think I have to train with Shisui today so I'm out." She chuckled.
Shikamru was suppose to go home but he still wanted to see the other boy's skills in archery. "Yeah, I'll come." Choji nodded in agreeance. "Awesome! I haven't had a chance to introduce you to my family yet!" Naruto's smile was so bright that Shikamaru felt warm.
Making their way home they all saw Kenshi smoking tabacco with the Third Hokage on the front porch. "Hey dad! Hey Jiji!"
Shikamaru looked at Naruto in shock. Choji stopped snacking to see him so casually talk to the Hokage. Kenshi stepped forward and pulled the blond in for a hug, "Naruto, these must be your friends you've finally decided to introduce us to."
Naruto laughed to himself, "Well I didn't want you to embarrass me ya know?!" Hiruzen smiled to himself.
"So is Kakashi here yet?" Kenshi nodded, "Yes he is in the back waiting for you with Sara."
Grabbing his two friends they all headed to the back. Both boys were quite shocked at the training ground in their back yard. Sara grinned, "Oh good. You brought more brats to train today."
"Before we start that, Naruto." The Jinchuriki straighten looking at the masked Shinobi. "Grab your Yumi. I want you to send thirty clones out to get the targets ready."
Smiling Naruto made his clones sending them seamlessly to the trees and grass. Grabbing his Yumi he stood ready. Sara sat next to the two boys Naruto had brought with him, "Have you two seen him shoot yet?"
"No we haven't." Shikamaru didn't take his eyes off the blond. Choji pulled out a bag of chips, "Is he good?"
Sara nodded, "He is the second best Archer I've seen." Seeing the grin on Naruto's face was humbling for the two kids. He seemed completely engrossed in the task at hand. "BEGIN!"
Naruto pulled a an arrow and fired as a target flew through the air. Running forward, two more launched into the air. Pulling two arrows he fired so fast the other two could barely see. Jumping into the air he performed a back flip. Grinning he saw nine targets. Firing as he spun through air, all nine shots hitting their targets.
Landing he sprinted forward the last remaining targets were strapped to sixteen of his clones. Two jumped out of bushes as he was moving. Firing two shots they disappeared in a puff of smoke. Rolling Naruto used the bow to smack the legs of another clone. Firing an arrow as he moved to the next target. Pulling three arrows, he sent them sailing into three more clones.
Another clone jumped but Naruto fired of to the side hitting the clone without looking. Within seconds the remaining clones had been dispatched. "Nice job Naruto." Kakashi ruffled the blond boys hair.
Walking back to the others, Naruto saw both of the boys looked at him in utter shocked. Shikamru felt his cheeks flush from watching the blond boy. "Naruto that was amazing."
Laughing Naruto just shrugged, "Sorry I get a little carried away when I shoot." Sara eyed the Nara boy. Naruto didn't seem to see the boys reaction to his shooting but she sure did.
"Okay let's begin. Naruto, you and Kakashi are going to practice Kenjutsu." Naruto nodded, "Hai Mom!"
Looking at the other two, "Okay you two. We will go over your family Jutsu." Both h boys nodded and got ready.
The boys were not ready for how intense Sara was. She was a veteran of war and it showed. Never showing mercy in battle or training. Shikamru was to continue outside of the Ofa home, his Shadow possession jutsu was power but it's strength came with strategy. He needed to be able to trap his enemies. Choji was strong but slow. She wanted him to work on speed and endurance to truly become a wrecking ball of destruction.
.
Shikamaru and Choji would go over once a week to train with the Kakashi and Naruto. Mito and Shino would come but not to train with them. Yui though would join in once and awhile. Beating the boys around the arena with ease.
After months together Naruto's group expanded. Hinata Hyuuga had joined and seemed to get along well with the relaxed group of friends. She tended to get really nervous around Naurto but he hadn't seemed to notice. One person who did was Shikamaru, it aggravated him but the young boy tried to ignore it.
Naruto walked through the academy doors and several girls walked up to him. He had developed a small fan club. Not quite to the extent of Sasuke, but still relatively big. Sakura was the leader of the Sasuke fan club, Into Yamanaka seemed to switch between the two. Even though Naruto found them beyond annoying, he did manage to stay nice.
"Hey Shika!" Naruto sat next to the lazy student. Smiling at the blond Shikamaru sat up, "Naruto, actually on time I see."
Leaning back in his chair Naruto yawned, "Yeah Yui kicked me out of bed this morning."
An arm wrapped around his shoulders, "Hey Shikamaru, how come you never invite Naruto over to our clan dinners?!" Ino looked at the boy in frustration. "Because I'm sure he doesn't want to deal with a fan girl just to hangout with me and Choji."
"I AM NOT A FANGIRL YOU JERK!" Ino stormed off heading towards Sasuke. "I feel sorry for you and Choji." Naruto knew that they would most likely be in a team together do to how successful their parents were as a team.
Shika rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah she is such a drag. I would rather just be on a team with you and Choji." Naruto laughed, he wasn't wrong though. Naruto could only hope that he got at least one of his friends.
Hearing the door open,the entire class quieted down. Iruka and Mitzuki both walked in to see the class waiting patiently for their final exams. "Now everyone it's time for your exams. First test will be the written you each have two hours to complete."
Naruto looked at the test and thought it was a bit easy for their final tests to be Genin. Finishing the test in record time, Naruto got up and turned it in to Iruka. He learned in the first week that Mitzuki was out to get him do to Kurama inside of him.
Shikamru turned his in right after. Giving a smirk to Naruto. Instantly feeling flustered for some reason. Shaking the feeling both boys went to their seat to wait for Choji and Mito to both finish.
Moving on Iruka lead them all outside. "Okay we are going to have everyone do two tests. Kunai throwing and Taijutsu for your physical exam."
Sasuke hit all 10 targets with ease. Naruto managed to hit 8 which put him tied with Mito and Hinata. Shika fist bumped Naruto as he went to the line. Naruto smiled watching his friend hit seven of the targets.
Walking up to the Taijutsu arena, they had five spots laid out. Each one had a different Procter. All were mid Chunin level. Naruto stepped up to see his chunin. The man smiled with the Senbon in his mouth. "All right Blondie let's see how you do?"
Naruto bowed to the older man as he dropped into his fighting stance. Genma grinned moving forward to the Jinchuriki. Naruto dodged the kick, kicking the man's grounded knee. Before he could fall he landed on his hands and flipped to his feet again. Naruto appeared in front of him. Throwing weak punch's, the Chunin was definitely holding back.
Smiling Naruto blocked each punch. Using circular rotations he used boy hands to redirect and open up counters. Iruka watched in awe, he had seen Naruto's Whirlpool style several times but it was like watching a deadly dance.
Naruto found his opening dodging an over handed punch he used two open handed strikes to the man's chest knocking him out of bounds with a massive force. The Chunin stood up and smiled at him. Giving the blond a nod of recognition before he moved in to his next student.
Watching the remaining fights. Many of the kids struggled. Shikamru included. His strong suit taking advantage of opening and not head on engagement. Sasuke did fairly well. Almost as well as Naruto. Mito and Hinata did a fantastic job as well. Choji was the biggest surprise. His training with Sara had really helped.
Finishing up the Taijutsu bouts, they ended back in the classroom. "For your final test I want you each to perform a henge and make a perfect clone of yourself." All in all it was a simple task to Naruto.
Naruto didn't pay much attention until his name was called. Going up he made a henge of Iruka. After examination Iruka was very accurate, "Now Iruka sensei, can I use any clone as long as it's a perfect copy right?"
Raising his eyebrow, "Yes as long as it's a perfect clone." Smiling Naruto created thirty shadow clones. "Naruto, those are solid clones."
Smiling all the Naruto's started acting all bashful. Nobody was able to understand the bombardment of noise coming out of the blond's. Shika looked around and shook his head 'Troublesome blond.'
Coming to an end, "Okay does anyone have any special skills they would like to show off for extra credit."
Naruto stood up, "I would like to go outside to demonstrate?" Iruka looked at the Naruto with curiosity. The Jinchuriki has been the most surprising student this year for him.
Naruto smiled, "I have Kenjutsu and Archery I'd like to show you!" Making their way outside, the entire class the gathered around one of the combat arenas.
Mitzuki stood in the arena with two Kunai. The man gave Naruto a menacing look, Iruka made note of the interaction. Mitzuki has been off since the demon child returned to the village. Iruka had found it hard to look at the child until he spoke with the Hokage.
After giving him a chance he realized that the child was kind, polite, skilled, and happy. Something he wouldn't have been left out of the village. Or even if he was the kids teacher. Iruka's hate could have turned Naruto into a scornful angry child. "BEGIN!"
Naruto ran to at Mitzuki, drawing his wakizashi he blocked both of the older chunins strikes. Keeping the weapon in a reverse grip, he blocked and dodge Mitzuki's strike. Spinning under the chunin's right arm he used the handle to hit Mitzuki's rib cage.
For the next fifteen minutes Naruto held his own with Mitzuki. Finally Mitzuki found an opening, giving the blond a shallow cut on his chest he flipped Naruto onto his back. Looking at the boy with hate in his eyes, he just couldn't believe he had to actually work to take down the little demon.
Iruka was also surprised, "Th-that was amazing Naruto. Okay what is your next skill?"
Pulling out a scroll Naruto activated the seal. Pulling out his Yumi and quiver with thirty arrows. Iruka was excited to see how Naruto was with a bow. He had studied archery when he was a Genin. As much as he loved it, it was to slow and he couldn't effectively apply it to being a Shinobi.
Naruto took aim at the targets. Ten targets were lined up, firing arrows after arrow he hit each target near center. The other kids were dumb founded. Shikamaru found it boring compared to when he is at home. After hitting all ten targets he looked at his teachers with a grin.
Mitzuki chuckled, "Please, you hit nine moving targets." Iruka didn't agree with the man. Naruto was fast and accurate. Suddenly five clones appear running off they all threw a target into the air. Pulling out five arrows he fired. In one shot hitting all five targets.
After shocking everyone. Iruka took them all back to class. "Mitzuki is going to hand out headbands to all students that passed. Naruto can you come up front please?"
Nervously the blond boy walked up to the front of the class. "Naruto Uzumaki. You have been the biggest surprise of the year. I'm happy to give you rookie of the year." Naruto smiled as he excepted his headband.
After all the headbands were handed out everyone made their way home. Yui was extremely happy to see her little brother with his headband. The family celebrated, knowing tomorrow Naruto would be getting his Genin team.
At the Uchiha Compound there were two conversations happening. One involved a Mito who was being belittled by her mom. While Itachi was was celebrating with Sasuke.