Naruto (Lessons of the Genin) for Zaylah
 

The Village Hidden in the Leaves was a rich and vibrant place where people all over the land of fire visit to trade goods, settle down to have families and train to become a full fledged Ninja.

Under the careful and wise rule of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the village has seen it's self largely recovered from the Nine-Tails attack that had taken place some 12 years past although the scars remain fresh in the mind of the survivors.

Konoha Academy was about to produce it's next batch of genin and with the tests just a few short weeks away, discipline was strictly being enforced and the tolerance for any cheeky or poor behaviour less tolerated.

Our story begins inside of the academy after everyone has left for the day with a certain blond finding themselves trudging back to his classroom.

In the halls of the Academy, the sound of blue sandals scrapped the ground was minimal, to the shoe wearer groans and puffs of protest.

"Gurrrrr! I did not do anything, believe it!"

"It is always me, me, me, humph!"

The twelve year old was slumped a bit as he slugged along with another huff.

"Maaaaaaaan, this sucks!"

The young blonde's face scrunched up in a sour pout.

His arms were crossed in a sulk.

The young ninja in training grew closer to his classroom.

His hands shifted from crossed to shoved in his pockets then to one giving a small rub on his backside for what would come.

"Urgh!!"

Naruto spouted out, flinging out an arm and proclaiming,

"I'm don't care! Ha! I am going to be the greatest Hokage, Buuuuuhelieve it!"

His voice rang in the empty halls and out the open windows but after a moment,

Naruto's huge smile failed, his shoulders slumped and he went back to grumbling and dragging his feet right into his classroom.

Iruka was busy cleaning off the board at the front of his classroom, he took pride in leaving his workspace clean so that it would be ready for use the next day.

Hearing the sounds of feet dragging on the ground, Iruka eye's narrowed as he saw his most problematic student walk into the empty room. "Nice of you to join us Uzumaki" Iruka said folding his arms.

Naruto Uzumaki looked up at his sensei's displeased face.

Despite the expression, Naruto could not help but feel a sense of warmness, at least Iruka seemed to care and noticed when he went missing.

*Everyone else was probably did not care, tch whatever, they were just relieved not to go against my awesome skills.*

Coming a few steps into the classroom, Naruto put on his normal “self”.

Flashing that wide big smile of his,

“Heya, Iruka-sensei, listen, about joining ya, haha, I was doing my own thing, you know?”

Naruto gave an enticing wink with an even bigger smile,

Then pointed a thumb at himself,

“I figured why read trees (books) when you can punch them and get stronger!”

Looking proud of his “logic” the boy stood in an equally proud pose.

"That is the most stupid thing I have ever heard, you should have been in class learning for the up-coming exam tomorrow!" the Irate sensei would say clearly not amused.

Naruto's vigor died with the dismal of his ideals.

"Aaarrrrgh! Iruka-sensei!"

The spiky haired boy protested in pure outrage.

"How So??!!"

He hopped from one foot to the other in his outburst ways, flailing his arms.

"Training is way more better than a boook!"

"Humph!"

He crossed his arms going back to sulking.

Then a "clever” idea struck him.

Getting that spark back again he walked towards Iruka asking.

"Tell me sensei, tell me when a book help you more over actual fighting on the battle field!"

He started to laugh waving a pointed finger.

"Tell me, tell me!"

Iruka stopped for a moment as if to put some mock thinking into what Naruto had just said, but then he realised... he was the teacher and Naruto was just stalling for time.

"Simple, I'm a full fledged Shinobi and your still an academy student" Iruka bluntly stated before he took the boy by the ear and lead him over to his desk before releasing him.

Naruto frowned at that response,

"Yeah but senssei ---- ow!"

Naruto screwed up his face at the ear grab and lead.

"Hey, hey, hey, lemme go quit it!"

When released, Naruto rubbed at his ear,

"Mmmruh, that was unecessary."

The boy could not help but pout.

Then looked a little downcast.

"That is just it, Iruka-sensei... I wanna be the greatest shinobi too."

"So, so, I gotta get stronger...."

Naruto let his -to now- boy bravado diminish in front of Iruka-sensei.

Iruka frowned, he could see the intensity in Naruto's declaration that he had just made, despite the childish attitude he still had, there was the faint embers that were slowly building into a flame.

"You want to get stronger?" Iruka questioned his young student with a quirked eyebrow.

"Well to begin with true strength begins with your confidence" Iruka began as he leaned against a nearby table.

Naruto nodded his head swiftly and quickly when asked if he wanted to become strong!

He got a big smile on this face, blue eyes sparking with confidence or over confidence!

"Believe it! I have tons of that sensei!"

He moved his arms around eagerly.

"I know, I WILL become super powerful and know so many jutsu and be strong!"

"Then! Then I will become the Hokage!!!"