I do not own the rights to "Naruto", nor any of the persons, places, or concepts within. This fan fiction is a non-profit tribute to the series, as well as a critique on it's existing plotline. Therefore, if requested by the owners and distributors of the "Naruto" anime or manga, I will discontinue and remove this story immediately.

Chapter I:

It was a foolish mistake, Raidon thought, dropping the kunai as the infantrymen closed in on him. So much had gone wrong on this mission, all thanks to his brother, Fudo. The nearest soldier, a newly conscripted boy, no less, was the one who held him at spear-point. The blood from his wounds had started to clot, and for added effect, the village's doctor was en route to their position. Apparently he was a valuable source of intelligence, and would not be spared through death.

Expendable, Raidon thought. That was what his team was. That was how the Fourth Hokage had treated them. His entire team had finally reached the rank of jounin not days before, and this was how they were repaid. This "last minute" mission, just a simple B-rank hop to the border and back, had proven far more challenging than they had anticipated. He only took it because he wanted a clean record of service before he began work in the ANBU. His comrades just wanted cushy instructor jobs with their own genin teams. They did not grasp the big picture, nor the significance politics played in combat, and vice versa.

They were all just sixteen, still considered children in some villages. They weren't even special by any means. There were several unique cases of students barely out of the academy who achieved chuunin and jounin status within two years, maybe even less. Still, they were supposed to be worth something, valued and loved by someone.

Raidon's eyes closed tightly as the pain in the open wounds intensified under the doctor's treatment. The ringing in his ears would not dissipate, regardless of the other stimuli. However, he could still hear well enough to know what the intelligence officers had in mind for him. Thankfully, he was smart enough to collect the forehead bands from his teammates, and hid them at the river bank. There were no other markings on his wholly gray and tan uniform to hint at his origins. Still, the words he overheard convinced him he had to proceed cautiously.

As the beatings began, a messenger from the bordering village in Cloud Country ran to the platoon leader. "Sir," the messenger panted. "Konoha, the Fire Country ninja village..."

"Yes?" the lieutenant asked.

"Their Kage is dead..."

Raidon cringed for a moment, and triggered the seal planted on his forehead, still hidden from the soldiers underneath a makeshift black bandana. Before it could take effect, though, he let the blood from his wounds catch in his cupped palms bound in front of him, and rubbed the crimson fluid over the paper seals tucked into his belt. Thirty seconds, the man reminded himself. That was how long he had before the seal would engage, and his mind would be lost.

An echoing roar followed the shattered treeline as thick, bellowing smoke flooded into the village. The explosive notes had done their job, erasing all evidence of their presence. Raidon couldn't help but clench his teeth, thinking about his teammates' bodies left in that pile of debris. The tags would destroy them, as well, leaving nothing to mourn but the incoming smoke.

"What the-?" the lieutenant barked, just as a sweeping kick dropped him to the ground. A large figure was suddenly on top of him, striking him with quick jabs to the chest and scalp. In an instant, the lieutenant stared, wide-eyed, as a pain built up in his chest. His heart would not beat.

Twenty seconds later, and five men were dead, while the others were running about, screaming at the top of their lungs. The explosive notes detonated sequentially, just as planned. The incoming blaze grew into a wildfire, moving directly in the path of the village. Five more seconds, and the flames were licking at the reinforced perimeter, guards leaping from the ramparts to their deaths.

The information would reach Konoha, and would be processed regardless of who took command. His comrades dead, all he had to do was stop the enemy from learning what he knew. As long as the seal took full effect before they pulled his tactical goggles away, his secret would be safe. he would die long before the fire would consume him, or before they could retrieve him for further questioning. As the brain cells began to decay, he let a faint, treacherous smile cross his lips. He lived long enough to know his enemies on both sides had been eliminated.

Such was the fate of those who crossed Raidon Hyuuga.

Iruka Umino groaned, the bandaging over the wound to his back pinning him into a painfully erect posture. He could neither sit nor lie down. Had he been smart, he would have simply let another chuunin read the roster for the new genin teams. Then again, he wanted to see Naruto's face light up, and the shock on the other students when "that dirty Uzumaki" managed to make it in. The student in question sat in his usual spot, next to Chouji and Shikamaru. This was going to be a significant change in the daily routine for them.

It always amused Iruka how much consideration was taken by the higher-ups when picking out genin teams. It was hardly just matching skill levels or abilities into a winning combination. While those were minor factors, the real selection of the groupings was based on promoting the future prosperity of the village. Trade alliances, social dynamics, and, dare he thought, the push for a steady increase in population forced the two man, one woman configuration in the hopes one member of the three-man cell would go after the kunoichi in the group.

Iruka thought back to the history the village, and couldn't wrap his head around a time when genin teams were selected from a balance of tactical skills alone. The change took place before the sannin were born. The other villages laughed for a period of time, but quickly noted Konoha's success, and causally linked it to the council's strict population control. Still, there were hold-outs. In fact, Umino heard gossip from Suna that the most prominent genin team up for the chuunin exams later this year were brothers and a sister. Such a configuration would never have been allowed in Konoha.

Looking up from the memo in front of him, the instructor noticed Naruto's concerned stare. Iruka just nodded with a slight smile on his face, trying to hide the bead of sweat which trickled down his forehead. He would have to cut his sessions short today, and instead let the remaining chuunin take over the induction of the latest Academy students. He promised the Hokage and the medic-nin he would return to the hospital shortly after. "I owe it to them," he told the Third, who seemed to agree.

The memo he held, in fact, did not have the listings of the new genin teams. Nor did it have any hint as to when the combination would be derived. Instead, it simply explained in lengthy Legalese, that the decisions were still up for debate. There was only one thing left to do.

"Class," Iruka began, the students instantly settling down. "The decision for the genin teams is still being processed, but we should have them shortly." Each official genin set their forehead bands down, which they had all gummed up with fingerprints, admiring them as treasures in only the way a child could. "So, until we have a decision, I'd like to take this time to answer any last-minute questions you may have that you didn't learn in class, or that you have about being a genin."

There were several stale, irritating questions that the teachers' pets had obviously researched, but nothing genuine. That is, there were no genuine questions until both Naruto and Hinata Hyuuga raised their hands. Uzumaki had been shown too many favors for one day, so drifting to the ancient rule of ladies first, Umino indicated the Hyuuga heiress.

"The...counselors from before," she began quietly stuttering. "Are they... always right?"

The class was split in their reactions, some snickering at the girl's cowardice, while the more prominent students sat quietly awaiting an answer. The personality questioning and psychological exams were simplistic attempts to statistically analyze the stability of the graduating class, and nothing more. Unless there were significant outliers that bordered on insanity, everyone was simply allowed to pass. Mizuki made it through, as Iruka coldly reminded himself.

"Hinata," Iruka began softly. "Sooner or later, a situation will arise when there is an imminent threat to yourself, your teammates, or the village. From all my experience, I have run into... situations... where I have had to use my training to its fullest. You have yet to experience that, and I hope, for sounding too optimistic, you never have to encounter those kind of threats."

Hinata cringed, and the reaction caught Naruto's attention. A few of the students who graduated with them, the ones who were held back a year, just laughed at her timid nature. Uzumaki, on the other hand, understood her concern. He had already been threatened with death just the night before, and while he didn't have to use lethal force... Naruto paused, plunging deeply into the recesses of his mind. Would he really have been able to kill Mizuki? Could he have really done it?

"Just remember," Iruka continued. "Your teammates will do everything in their power to protect you, and I imagine you will do the same. You shouldn't feel bad for doing what is necessary to protect yourself or your friends." It was not an ideal answer, but it was suitable. If she wasn't willing to hurt people to do what was best for the village, she would have never considered being a shinobi. Then again, there was little choice in the matter for her.

Kakashi was relieved, for the most part. "Dead Last" would not end up in his genin team. However, he was rather disappointed, wondering what kind of treatment the Fourth's legacy would receive from another instructor. Kurenai and Asuma joined him shortly on the roof of the Hokage Tower.

"Are they still debating?" Asuma grumbled.

"There's a backlog of students graduating a year late," Kakashi explained. "The teams won't balance out to perfect three-man cells. For the most part, the teams are chosen, but there are still one or two genin being shuffled around."

Kurenai raised an eyebrow. "No three-man cells? How are we supposed to work around that?"

"The Third mentioned something about an ANBU requesting a chance to instruct a genin team this year," Kakashi sighed. Asuma and Kurenai both glanced at each other, then stared at their masked friend, waiting for information. "He wants to take the worst performing students of the graduating classes, and put them through some kind of remedial training with Anko Mitarashi as an adjunct instructor."

"So, Mitarashi's going for full-blown jounin, eh?" Asuma grinned. He was glad to hear one of the specialized jounin was trying to do push beyond their stagnant rankings. Particularly, he was proud it was Anko. She had a bad label thrown on her by the village simply because of her instructor's actions. "Sounds like this guy is begging to stand out. Is he just trying to ruin our requests?"

"Well, he's at least ruined one of mine," Yuuhi sighed, glancing at the preliminary list Kakashi handed to her. "Hinata Hyuuga has been assigned to the remedial class. That's going to throw off my entire group, meaning I'll need to train one of the holdbacks from last year in scouting." She passed on the list to Sarutobi.

"I get the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi combination this year," Asuma groaned. "It's like the Third is just trying to play favorites." Still, Sarutobi thought, it wasn't so bad having a good hand to begin with. He could at least count on the village elders sticking to tradition. "What about you, Kakashi? Any changes in your group?"

"I will be teaching the Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno this year," the former ANBU declared. "My third student was the exception to this year's graduating class-"

"You're going to have Naruto Uzumaki?" Kurenai wheezed, blinking in confusion.

"Rough break," Asuma smirked. "That's at least one loudmouth headache on your hands, maybe more, depending how badly he meshes with the others-"

"The new jounin took him..." There was nothing more to be said at that point. "Take a good long look at the students on his list. He's up to something, but what, I can't determine."

Glancing over the edge of the tower's roof, Kurenai noticed the dispersing elders of the council. The decisions had been made, and all that was left was to accept the results.

The Third Hokage stared at the man in black coveralls with tan padding over the joints, the signature tactical vest of a higher ranking shinobi, and the opaque, circular sunglasses which shielded his eyes. Sarutobi could not help but notice the circular scar on his forehead, partially concealed with the rippled scar tissue of severe burns. The genin he requested, at least two of them, would not catch on to its significance. "It has been quite some time," the old man stated calmly. He tried to pull a faint smile, but the man simply glared back. "I'm surprised you requested this transfer. You've been on every deep cover mission beyond Fire Country's borders you could take since at least a decade ago. What's changed?"

"Twelve years to be precise," the man answered. "That is precisely why I have returned. That student, from what I understand, needs a certain motivation he is lacking from the existing instructors."

The Third grimaced. "What are you going to do differently that the others have not?"

"Make him into a shinobi, Sir," he curtly answered. "The seven I requested need more work, and not just in their combatives." He knew it would be difficult to convince the Hokage, but it was important to explain his intent. "With your permission, I would like the training to consist of academic and tactical training with the border guard at Mamoru."

Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. "The bordering village with Wind Country?"

"I can assure you no ninjutsu, genjutsu, or bloodline limit training will take place anywhere near that village, Sir." The man knew this question was coming. "Consider it walking a kilometer in another man's shoes."

Sarutobi understood instantly. "The world is changing," he admitted sadly, turning his chair to face the window of his office behind him. As the man began to walk away, the Third interrupted one last time. "The Fourth didn't want to do it, but he had no idea the informant was so closely tied to the village. If it were someone from another clan, we could have flushed them another way." The old man paused. "He's been dealt with, and the clan has suffered enough. If you truly want to cleanse the hate, you need to quit running."

But he already understood. He had spent twelve years understanding. Understanding, however, would not bring his friends back. "Yeah," Raidon breathed.

Iruka groaned, his back still throbbing. Suddenly, a chuunin stepped into the classroom with a list in hand. The questions had proven annoying at best, and after a two hour delay, he was glad it was over. Still, Umino thought, between Hinata's question, Naruto's concerned glances, and the dozing glances of Shikamaru, he was going to miss this particular class. There was something about them that was different than the three he had taught before. Perhaps it was just the right combination of students, or maybe it was the fact he was finally becoming comfortable with his job. Another quick glance towards Naruto, and he knew this particular class was going to be something special.

"Okay," Iruka breathed, holding up the list to the light. He could hardly believe it. Studying the list, he could not understand what the council was thinking. "Umm... it looks like there has been a change from prior years," he stuttered. "There are three genin teams, and a specialized remedial class..."

As if on cue, all the students protested. However, each protest was different. The better performing students were being yelled at by those mediocre performers, arguing about preferential treatment, while two students in particular cringed. Hinata Hyuuga gulped nervously, not wanting to be placed in the remedial course, yet also not wanting to burden a proper genin team. She glanced over to the other who cringed.

Naruto Uzumaki cursed under his breath, and was about to raise his hand in protest when Iruka shot him a dark look. Hinata caught the interaction between the two, and observed silently. She could see the boy shrink back, and hang his head. He had fought so hard, and to be put in a remedial class was the best that would happen? "Because of the large number of students, the genin teams couldn't be properly balanced out," Umino shouted over the tantrums thrown by the anxious graduates. "Therefore, two new instructors will be conditioning those in the larger group for-"

"This is a joke!" one student screamed.

"We didn't work this hard just to be shoved aside for the Uchiha, and the favored clan trio-" another yelped, until a sound from behind him cut off his protest.

"The class is required for those who didn't meet an eighty-percent or higher," the cold, dead voice of a man stated from the back of the classroom. Iruka glanced up. When had that man come in? He could have sworn the stranger wasn't there before, and a full squad of chuunin were guarding all the entrances. "However, whether or not you deserve to move on is up to you."

"It's a waste of time!" one student complained. "You're keeping us back!"

The man was wearing shades and a black bandana, the standard issue forehead plate riveted to a reinforced tan shoulder pad on his left arm. Atop his bandana was a pair of tactical goggles, their opaque, golden lenses reflecting the fluorescent lighting of the crowded auditorium. Following behind him were Kurenai Yuuhi and Asuma Sarutobi. "No," the man argued. "You hold yourselves back! Look around, and tell me honestly you think everyone in this classroom has what it takes for combat."

"Yeah, we do!" a lone voice barked. Hinata didn't recognize it at first. His voice was so different from before. Only when she stared in disbelief did she associate the challenging voice with Naruto Uzumaki. "Just put me on a genin team, and I'll prove it! Everyone here deserves to move forward!"

The man in black grinned, glancing back to Iruka. "Clear the room."

"Huh?" Umino started. "Hey, wait!"

"You are in no condition to protest with your injuries, Mr. Umino," the man barked. "Clear the room!" As the chuunin filed out, Asuma and Kurenai moved to the furthest corner from the jounin. Each looked nervously at the other, and back at the former ANBU. "You're the one who passed under... extenuating circumstances, am I right?"

A few of his classmates snickered, but Naruto held his opponent's stare. "What of it?"

The jounin reached from behind his tactical belt, and with lightning speed, plunged a kunai into the desk before the boy. Naruto flinched, but dared not move. Everything was too fast. He couldn't even see the man's lead up to the strike. "Why are you panicking?" he asked.

"W-what do you mean, 'why am I panicking'?" Naruto screamed, retracting his hands from the wooden surface. "You could have killed me!" Before he could make his point, though, the instructor was already walking up to the chalkboard. Again, the students from before were snickering, and Hinata thought she could see a pair of girls pointing with mocking looks at the blonde-haired boy, causing her teeth to clench momentarily.

"Before you start wetting yourselves, finding how amusing this is," the jounin grumbled sarcastically, "Mr. Uzumaki, over there, is the only one of you who has actual combat experience!" Hinata pulled her hateful stare from the pair of girls as the students went silent. No one was laughing anymore. The man moved in closer, his eyes hidden behind the sunglasses as he studied the boy carefully. "If memory serves, you took on a chuunin all by yourself, using a jounin-level technique, and saving a fellow shinobi in the process, am I right?"

"Y-yes..." Naruto murmured, barely audible.

The jounin instructor glared at the boy. "What was that? Our great warrior of this year's genin can't project his voice?" The man strolled up to Naruto, his body erect, hands tucked behind his back. "Stand up, son! Show some pride in yourself!" He waited for the blonde to stumble to his feet. The boy stood there awkwardly, the eyes of all those around him focused directly on his verbal battle with this man who started to turn towards each student as he spoke. "The first rule when addressing me, or any superior, is to do so with respect for yourself, and your fellow shinobi!" He paused, Naruto shifting nervously from one foot to another. "Stand still, boy!"

Before Naruto could protest, the man was beside him, Shikamaru pushed aside while the jounin measured up the reluctant blonde. First, he positioned Naruto's shoulders. "Shoulders back, hands clasped behind you," he stated. Spreading his stance to shoulder width, giving his pupil a chance to observe, he urged Uzumaki's feet into the proper position with a light kick to the shin. "Feet at shoulder width, to give you a firm, balanced stance, ready for action," he bellowed. "And finally, your head is held up high, eye contact directly with mine! Understood?"

"Y-yes," Naruto answered, his voice trembling.

"Now, Mr. Uzumaki," the jounin started, turning to his pupil, mirroring Naruto's stance. "The kunai buried into that desk of yours, could you pick it up and slash my throat before I could react?"

"N-no..."

"Why do you say that?"

Naruto blinked. He thought the answer was obvious. "Because I couldn't even see you pull it on me before. How am I supposed to beat you if I'm not as fast as you?" Uzumaki's tone became a little insulting, and the students started to chuckle again.

"Why are you boneheads laughing?" the instructor started. The genin instantly went silent. "Mr. Uzumaki here has made a very wise observation." He turned to one of the laughing students, the Inuzuka of this year. "Mr. Inuzuka," he started in his tone, waiting for the boy to respond. However, both he and the dog with him sat perfectly still. "Are you somehow special? Didn't I just tell you how to address a superior?"

"U-umm... no, Sir!" Kiba blurted, stumbling to stand, copying Naruto's posture. Once he stood, there was a loud crack, and a kunai was planted, this time up to the hilt, in the desk before him.

"Hmm... I like that 'sir' bit," the jounin nodded as he spoke. He didn't have to address the others for each genin to make a note of that. "Mr. Inuzuka, could you slash my throat before I could react?"

Kiba shook his head. "No, Sir."

The jounin leaned in slowly, his face only centimeters from Kiba. "Then why are you laughing at Mr. Uzumaki?" Kiba just glared as the man walked away, again to the chalkboard. "Those of you who made the eighty percent benchmark are free to leave." he started again, just as the desk chairs squealed on the polished wooden floor. "You'll be informed of your team assignments, and your instructors will make the appropriate appointments for your first meetings." As nine students filed out, the remaining eight just glared. "As for the rest of you," he interrupted, "I have our first assignment."

The students groaned collectively. 'What was this, the academy?', Naruto thought. They were genin now, or at least they were supposed to be.

With the attention of the remedial class on him, the man spoke softly. "Under your seat, you will each find a kunai, a topographic map, a box of matches, and fifty meters of twine. Consider these the only gifts you will ever receive from me. Everything else from this point on must be earned." The students, one after the other, reached under their seats and retrieved the offerings.

Drawing on the chalkboard a crude representation of both Wind and Fire Countries, the man started his briefing. "As you can see on your map, the village of Mamoru is approximately four-hundred kilometers northwest of Konoha." Naruto, out of all the students, looked completely confused. He couldn't locate it to save his life. "For those who can't find it, you have thirty minutes to pair up with someone who can. In a half an hour, we meet at the village's western gate."

Kurenai blinked. "What the hell?" Asuma was lost, as well. He couldn't possibly be doing what the two jounin thought he was doing.

The man grinned. "Survival training begins in a half an hour, gentlemen. We leave for Mamoru at sixteen-hundred hours sharp!"

End of Chapter I

Coments/questions, please leave a review.