Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or this idea as it is a challenge fic issued by Dracohalo117

*Hokage's Residence – Monday*

"Tenzo report" Hiruzen orders sitting at his desk.

"Hai Hokage-sama, there have been no sightings of Danzo since his escape two days ago. It also appears he was able to gather a majority of his Root forces before leaving the village although he left a few behind to slow our pursuit" Tenzo says.

"What about his hideouts?" The Hokage asks.

"We found several throughout the village and one big complex about ten miles from the village. It held housing, several large cafeterias, and a med station. The main base though was located directly beneath the Hokage Tower and ran underneath the village in a massive maze of tunnels that connected to his house and the big base outside the village and several smaller bases inside the village. We also uncovered a few more of the Snake's labs and hideouts when doing our search including one that seemed to be used by both the traitorous Sannin and Danzo. There are also recent traces in one of Danzo's bases of the Snake Sannin or a spy of his" Tenzo reports.

'My biggest mistake and Danzo working together' Thought Hiruzen worriedly.

'For how long? How many traitors are in my village hiding in plain sight? What have I been doing to let all of this happen? What's happened to this village?' Were some of the thoughts running through the old Hokage's mind.

"Tenzo this ends here. I want all ANBU to stop whatever missions they are on and return to the leaf in a weeks' time no exceptions. Then you will conduct a more concentrated search first of the already known hideouts of both men and then the whole village again, but this time look for anything that doesn't belong or looks out of place. Then I want a thorough investigation of every member of the council and ninja forces. If there are any reasons to suspect them of treason I want interrogations done immediately. This stops now Konoha will no longer tolerate traitors doing as they please and causing harm to this village and it's citizens. I have allowed far too much to go unnoticed or punished on my watch. Leave the full report on my desk and get everything you could possibly need to be ready" The Hokage says firmly.

The ANBU Captain nods placing the reports in front of the Hokage and immediately shunshined to ANBU Headquarters to prepare. The old man let out a deep tired breath as he slumped down in his chair wishing he could just stay in bed for a week reading his Icha Icha. Breaking from his thoughts he remembered what else he was supposed to be doing this morning.

'Maybe Orochimaru isn't my biggest mistake' the old man thought. Just then he heard a knock at his door.

'He's here earlier than I expected. I honestly thought I'd have to send a few ANBU after him to get him here' the Sandiame thought.

"Come in" Hiruzen said.

Naruto walked into the Hokage's office just like he had many times before only now his goal in life was gone and replaced by … nothing. He had nothing without being a ninja. Naruto had honestly spent almost every waking moment since before he could even remember wanting to be or trying to be a ninja and now that was gone.

Over the weekend though he came to a stunning conclusion … the illusion he gave himself to keep going against a world that seemed mostly against him was the main thing that hurt him. As long as he kept going on and on about actually wanting to protect people he could care less about and more often then not hated him he would find himself in one stupid and dangerous situation after another. It would also stop him from discovering more about himself and honestly finding something he loved to do.

The thought of being a ninja made him sick. Living in a ninja village blinded most kids to the truth, but thanks to Iruka, the Fox, and Mizuki his blinders were off and he truly saw what kind of profession he almost signed himself up for. To most people who had no affiliation with ninjas they were the type of vile evil scum that sneak in your house at night and kill entire families because someone paid them the right amount of money. Heck, when Naruto thought more about it he came to the conclusion that if paid enough money they would kill off their own family.

The other conclusion Naruto came to was the Hokage wasn't the kind old generous grandfatherly type he often made himself out to be. No, he ordered those ninja to kill off that family and if they didn't do it they could be executed on grounds of treason for not following orders. He also realized the Hokage had been subtly pushing him into being a ninja using the loneliness and confusion he had felt for most of his life to make him do what he wanted him to. When he saw how thoroughly he had been manipulated by the old man Naruto could no longer think of him as a family or even as a friend.

Naruto was beyond confused at this point. The man he thought of as family as a grandfather was in reality a cold blooded killer who had legions of cold blooded killers that he ordered to do cold blooded killer type things and tricked little kids like him into being cold blooded killers with illusions of fame and glory and all that went with that. But that still left the problem of now that he no longer wanted to be a ninja.

What exactly could he do?

Did any of his skills translate well into any other profession?

Would he be allowed to pursue that profession if he staid in Konoha?

Last, but not least did he even want to stay in Konoha?

Naruto loved the village with all his heart and it was perfect … well if you got rid of certain people. It was beautiful, warm year round, and if you weren't him it was a very friendly and hospitable place to live.

The only things Naruto had figured out was that now that he was done trying to be a ninja he was happier than he had been in a long time and that no matter what even if he had to go to jail he wouldn't be a ninja. So with that in mind Naruto walked quietly over to the Hokage's desk and sat in the chair directly in front of him.

"Hello Hokage-sama, you wanted to see me" Naruto says.

"Naruto-kun, I want to know what's caused you to not want to be one of my shinobi all of a sudden?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asks.

Naruto takes a thinking pose for a few minutes before looking like he remembered something.

"It started when Umino-san was yelling at me over the written portion of the test. You know I suck at genjutsu and so does any teacher I've ever had. I think Mizuki rigged the test with a genjutsu and like a baka I just accepted it and tried to answer the questions the best I could even though I knew this couldn't possibly be the academy's graduation exam as the questions were too hard and some didn't even have anything to do with being a ninja.

However, Mizuki must have done something, because all Umino-san got back was a blank paper so he was yelling at me as everyone else headed to the weapon throwing portion of the test. When he was yelling he said that he felt everyone might be better off if I did fail and never became a ninja. At first I was upset, because of the things he said and the fact I knew I had at least tried to do the test, but that last thing he said got me to thinking if it would really be the end of the world if I didn't pass" Naruto says.

The Hokage seriously did not like the direction this was going. 'I might need to introduce Umino-san to Ibiki' Hiruzen thought.

"Naruto, what about your dream of being Hokage and taking my hat some day? Of the villagers liking and respecting you? Don't you still want those things?" The Hokage asked hoping Naruto would remember how much he wanted to be a ninja.

"Hokage-sama I thought about a lot of things these past couple of days and I came to a few answers. First, I never wanted to be Hokage or a ninja. I just wanted people to treat me like a normal kid and maybe even like me and I now realize that is a really sucky reason to become a ninja plus it'll never happen no matter what I do with some of them.

Second, Umino-san was right I'd make a lousy ninja. I like wearing bright clothes, I hate authority and politics, and as bad as my life has been I don't have it in me to take a life unless I absolutely have to. I also realized I don't care about the villagers and what they think. If they leave me alone I'll leave them alone. I only care about those that truly care for me and some how I think they'll be happy with my decision" Naruto says confidently.

'Yep, I'm definitely going to book an appointment with Ibiki for Iruka tomorrow' the Hokage thought.

"What will you do Naruto? How will you make any money, because if you do this Naruto I won't be able to keep giving you the allowance you currently receive" Hiruzen says.

"I don't know Hokage-sama, but I'll figure it out and I'll find a way to survive as I always do" Naruto says not phased by that question even if he had doubts himself.

"Then what about your parents legacy? They were both great ninja from very prestigious clans. You are all that's left of both families don't you want to be a great ninja to make them proud?" The Hokage asks.

Naruto just looked at the old man like he grew five heads. "Wait a minute my parents … from prestigious clans? You always tell me you don't know who my parents are" Naruto says glaring at the old man.

'Damn this must have been how Danzo felt when he slipped up' the old man thought.

"Look Naruto … I'm sorry, but I couldn't tell you about them or you would have been in a lot of danger. Your parents had a lot of enemies and people who wanted to take advantage of them. Your father was afraid of what would happen to you if they knew you were his child so he made me promise not to tell anyone including you until you could protect yourself. He said when you were either chūnin or 16 that I should tell you and release your inheritance. I'm sorry Naruto, but until one of those conditions is met I can't help you" Hiruzen says.

Naruto just sat there lost in thought as he listened to the old man once again spin his lies. 'He knows who my parents are and he won't tell me unless I become one of his ninja puppets to command as he see's fit. I bet he wouldn't tell me even if I was 16 and a chūnin. Hell I bet he wouldn't tell me even if I was 18 and a jōnin ranked member of ANBU. This is his little secret to keep waving in front of my face so I dance to his strings the way I have been my entire life' Naruto thinks with darker and darker thoughts coming to the forefront. Gripping his hands tightly to the point of drawing blood Naruto tries to calm himself and leave the dark thoughts for another day.

"I understand Hokage-sama" was his strained reply.

"Good, good my boy I am glad you understand so now then how about we forget all of this nonsense and you head on to the academy to get your team assignments" the Hokage says with a smile plastered on his face.

"I think you misunderstood me Hokage-sama. I meant that I understand about you not being able to tell me if that was truly their wish. I will wait until the day after my 16th birthday to receive the information and anything else they may have left for me" Naruto says. That stupid fake smile was gone in an instant and an old war veteran replaced the caring old man.

"What makes you think you have a choice Naruto? What makes you think I or the council will simply let you walk away from your duty?" The old man asks sternly.

"I don't know maybe it's because I'm not as dumb as you all think. The moment I failed that test regardless of what happened afterwards I became a civilian. Then there is the little matter of that being my third time failing the test, which disqualifies me from going to the academy next year. I am a civilian and as the law states as a civilian I do not have any loyalty or duty to this village and can leave if and when I want, but right now I just want to live as peaceful a life as possible while I figure some things out" Naruto says.

"Naruto do you even know what you are saying?" the old man asks incredulously with a look on his face that screamed I'm ashamed of you.

"You are basically putting yourself back under the auspices of the civilian council giving me no way of keeping you safe as you would not be under my jurisdiction any more" the Hokage says.

"I wasn't under your jurisdiction at any point even as an academy student Hokage-sama. Even if I was that didn't stop them from doing the evil things they've always done. Not to mention the civilian council has no rights or authority to do anything to anyone shinobi or civilian, but you've allowed them to assume that they do and that's the real problem. The civilians don't even have the legal authority to do anything more than suggest for you to punish someone or force them to change the color of the awning covering the sidewalk in front of their shop. I mean haven't you ever figured out that all this paperwork you keep getting is mostly from the civilian council getting you to do their dirty work and enforcing their petty schemes to grab power?" Naruto lectures.

This forced the old Hokage to stop and actually think about what Naruto was saying. He looked down at the latest piece of garbage that waited his signature and sighed. The boy spoke the truth and he would do something about that, but now wasn't the time.

"Okay Naruto say that you are right and that I find a way to take care of the civilian council that wouldn't stop the civilians from attacking you or sadly even my own shinobi. Then there is what your parents wanted for you. They named you after a character in a famous ninja's book where the main character becomes a famous ninja and savior to his country and the world certain that you were destined for great things. Also, what about you friends? Won't you miss any of them? They are going to be awfully busy training and doing missions to help the village and gain prestige for their families. Are you just going to sit on the sidelines while your friends pass you by and become strong and even closer with each other?" The old man asks as he puffs on his pipe.

Naruto sat back for a minute before answering. "You are probably right Hokage-sama if anything they'll probably blame me if you finally take back control like you should have long ago before things got so out of hand. I imagine they'll hire many assassins both from inside and outside of Konoha to do the deed, but fear won't make me change my mind.

I'll become strong no matter what in my own way and protect those I love and myself from them by any means necessary. As for friends I never really had any. The best I got was a few willing to do some pranks with me and then leave me holding the bag or this one girl who seems to pass out whenever I get within ten feet of her. Other than that it was no better than the adults and I can't honestly say I'll miss any of them, but I wish them all luck and hope they survive.

As for what my parents wished for me … why should I care when it seems no one else has. I will do my best to shoulder this burden and be a good person, friend, lover, husband, and hopefully father. If that isn't good enough then I am sorry but that is all they, this village, and you shall receive" Naruto says strongly crossing his arms showing he wouldn't budge.

The old Hokage let out another sigh and then put his pipe away. 'I can't believe it's come to this, but Naruto truly is the most unpredictable person I've met in all my years … even my wife didn't vex me this much' the Hokage thought.

"It seems there is nothing I can do to change your mind" Hiruzen says getting a shake of the head from Naruto.

"Fine then your free to go, but if you ever change your mind my door is always open to you and here is the money for capturing Mizuki. It isn't much, but it should last you awhile" the old man says handing Naruto a pouch. Naruto looked into the pouch and was shocked at how much was in there.

'Maybe I've been too quick to judge the old man' Naruto thought.

"Thank you Hokage-sama … for everything" Naruto says and then walks out the room.

Taking one last look at where the young man who he considered like a grandson walked out the tired old Hokage could only shake his head before moving on to other matters. Calling an ANBU he took out a scroll and jotted down a quick note before handing it to the masked man and sending him to deliver it then reaching into a secret compartment fished out a bottle of Sake and drank the entire bottle then took out his favorite little orange book giggling as he read to the dismay of his hidden ANBU.

10:05 a.m. – Konoha Ninja Academy

At the Ninja Academy Umino Iruka was reading the scroll an ANBU had dropped off thirty minutes ago. He spent the first ten minutes to get over his shock and then the last twenty coming to grips with what the scroll suggested.

'So Naruto was really serious about not being a ninja. This is all my fault I failed as a sensei' The man thought sadly.

Iruka had spent the entire weekend trying to track down the blond, which was odd as he usually found him no problem one of the few with such skill. His ability to track Naruto down so easily earned him a lot of money over the years as the Hokage and council considered it a C-rank mission or higher depending on the level of charges against the happy-go-lucky blond idiot. So not being able to find the blond at all was greatly concerning him and now the Hokage wanted to see him and he wasn't having a good feeling about that.

'Naruto why give up now? Did my words really affect you that badly?' Iruka questioned.

'Of course they did. I above all else know that words can leave deeper scars than any physical wound so why did I say all of that' Iruka thought.

'It's because I never knew you like I thought I did nor had the connection I thought we did. I thought I was doing enough, because I didn't hurt or hinder you like the others but Mizuki was doing enough of that for the both of us and I allowed him to passing it off as normal, because sadly with you it was. I failed you Naruto, but I promise that from now on any and every kid that passes through those doors will get my best and I will help them as much as I can with everything not just the stuff I'm supposed to or just in the classroom and some day I'll make it up to you Naruto' Iruka thought to himself with many different emotions playing over his face settling on a smile.

The kids watching all of this were some what disturbed by their soon to be former teacher and had quieted down as Iruka had some weird smile on his face and an unnatural shine in his eyes. As soon as it started it ended as Iruka snapped out of it and looked at the group of young aspiring ninja about to start their new lives.

"I just want to say it was a pleasure teaching you all and I look forward to hearing about all the great things I'm sure you are going to do as ninja of Konohagakure. I just have a little advice I hope you all listen to and take it to heart. Do what you are told, train hard, listen to and learn from those more experienced than you, and most importantly rely on your teammates, friends, and family to help you get stronger and be your support when things get tough" Iruka says.

Iruka looked around taking in the faces most of which unbeknownst to them he'd be seeing again. Some genuinely seemed inspired which made him smile a little, A few had their heads hanging down for different reasons, and sadly most just seemed to sit their uncaring or not understanding. Looking at one of the students with their head down he made out the little shy dark haired Hyuuga that would follow Naruto around.

'Poor girl looks like her entire world has come apart' Iruka thought shaking his head. Iruka pushed the thoughts aside and decided to reveal what they all … well most of them wanted to hear. "Okay everyone quiet down so I can give out your team assignments. Team 1 is …"

11:45 a.m. – Ichiraku's Ramen stand

Naruto had been walking around for awhile now. He thought about training, but wasn't really in the mood plus he wanted to actually have a plan when he started training again. He admitted to himself that he wasted a lot of his time doing things that didn't help him and training was no different. Deciding to just do something Naruto noticed the streets were more populated than they had been a minute ago and then noticed the time. It was the lunch rush and now that he thought about it a bowl or two of ramen would do him some good.

It only took a minute for Naruto to make his way to the little stand and walk inside finding Ayame in her usual spot at the counter reading a magazine.

"Hey Ayame nee-chan" Naruto called out to the young woman.

"Hey Naruto, we were starting to get worried about you. You haven't come to the stand since Thursday" Ayame says putting away the magazine.

"Yeah, sorry about that I guess I got caught up trying to pass the graduation exams again" Naruto explains.

"It's okay Naruto as long as you are okay. So did you pass this time?" Ayame asks, but knew the answer before she did. She had overheard a group of civilians gloating over Naruto's latest failure when she was at the market.

"No … I failed again" Naruto says some what somberly, but still managed to look the young woman in the eye. Ayame for her part was shocked that he seemed to be taking things so well.

'Last time he holed up in his room for a solid week with about a years worth of store bought ramen only coming out when it was all gone. When he came out he actually had a bit of a gut on him' she thought.

"Are you going to be okay Naruto-kun?" Ayame asked coming around the counter and sitting next to her favorite blond.

"Yeah, I'll be fine nee-chan … it's just … I found some stuff out and now I don't know what to do" Naruto says somberly.

"Glad to see you are taking it so maturely Naruto, but hey there is always next year right. I'm sure you'll pass it then" Ayame says trying to lift the little blonde's spirit.

"There won't be a next year" Naruto says just loud enough for only Ayame to hear.

"What?" The teenage girl says asks in confusion.

"I'm not going back. I've decided to become or rather stay a civilian" Naruto responds receiving a gasp from the girl.

"B-b-but Naruto … for as long as I've known you that's all you've talked about … well besides ramen. Why give up now?" Ayame asked.

"It's not that I'm giving up Ayame onee-chan. The Hokage made me a genin and even tried to stop me from turning him down, but things happened yesterday that led me to realize I don't want to be a ninja. When I thought about it I realized I never did as my reasons were childish and all about getting people to like me not protecting them. I also realized that ninja do things I hope I never have to do and it's not the glamorous lifestyle I thought it was. Honestly, I feel sorry for some of my classmates as they are in for a rude awakening" Naruto says.

Ayame was stunned. She knew Naruto was smarter than he let on … he had to be just to survive as long as he has, but he just seemed … so much older … it unnerved her a little.

"So what happened … exactly?" Ayame asked curious to what caused all of this.

"Some of it I can't say, but basically one of the proctors sabotaged my test and the other yelled at me thinking I was just being stupid when I tried to tell him. I got tricked by the proctor who sabotaged my test into doing something so stupid and illegal it could have gotten me killed, which I think he was either hoping for or hoping to do himself. I stopped the evil proctor and was given the chance by both Iruka and Hokage-san to become a shinobi, which I turned down. Then spent the weekend in bed trying to figure out what to do next" Naruto says flatly.

"So … did you come up with anything?" Ayame asked after a few silent minutes had passed between them.

"Not really … but I remember over hearing this man tell his son one time to do what makes you happy. I don't really have anything like that except cooking" Naruto says.

"Well what about cooking?" Ayame asked. Naruto just looked at her for a minute.

"You mean like you and the old man?" He asked. Ayame nodded in response.

"I can't do that … even if I wanted to the moment word got out about my restraunt rather I just worked in it or owned it those bastards would at best boycott it and at worst and most likely burn it down with me in it" Naruto replies after a minute of thought.

Both sat in silence for awhile just thinking when Ayame got an idea and started to look around for anyone that might over hear what she was about to say, but found no one.

"Well then why not use what you learned at the academy and fool everyone?" Ayame asked.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked intrigued.

"I mean you can always henge and make yourself look like someone else and if you know any of those solid clone techniques they can help by providing numbers" Ayame says quietly so only Naruto can hear.

Naruto thought about what she said sitting back on his stool nearly tipping over a time or two. Ayame just giggled watching him and studying his facial expressions that just seemed too cute. Naruto stopped and turned to Ayame,

"If I did this do you think I can work here" Naruto said. Ayame got real uncomfortable and it showed on her face. Her uncomfortability lay in the fact that due to their … pro Naruto stance they didn't get a lot of business even if they were widely recognized as one of the best stand operated eateries in the Elemental nations.

Seeing her face Naruto quickly amended what he said, "I'd work for free and all … I just want to get some experience".

Ayame looked down, "I'm sorry Naruto, but even for free we couldn't hire you. It's not that we don't want to … it's just this is a small stand and we don't get much business as is. I hope you understand" Ayame said feeling bad for having to turn him down.

Hiring Naruto was something she and her father often talked about mainly because while they wouldn't tell him they never really thought he'd become a shinobi. Those conversations always came to the sad conclusion that they couldn't no matter how much they wanted to. They realized if business was bad now it would be even worse if they did hire him.

Naruto did understand and he didn't want to cause any trouble for two of the few people he held dear.

"I … understand. I'll just have to go about it another way I guess" he says to placate his worried friend.

Ayame tried to make sure her little blond friend was alright, but he just thanked her for her concern and asked for a bowl of ramen. Naruto knew she would hate being blown off like that, but right now he just really needed to get away from it all. Eating one bowl Naruto paid and then left deciding to head home. He had a lot to think about and unfortunately this time ramen wouldn't help him.

I want to thank all of you for reading this 3rd installment of 'Is There More to my Life'. I hope you enjoyed it and I again apologize ahead of time for not responding to your reviews, but I promise that I read all of them.

This is a challenge fic. The challenge is 'I Quit' and if you want more details please check out Dracohalo117's profile for this and other challenges. Also, check out Challenger's profile who has all kinds of interesting challenges up on his profile if you are interested.