The Kitsune's Mask

Chapter 1: The People Who Notice

...October 10...

The sky was crying. The drops fell like sad drums beating the Earth by the Heavens. Only one place remained barren of rain on this sorrow filled night. However, it didn't escape the absence of fluid. Sadly, this is why the sky was crying; for in that small spot in the middle of a filth filled alley was a child. This child couldn't be older than six, if even that, and he was covered in blood. The boy, he was hung on the side of a building. His hands and feet were pierced by kunai, his torso was carved with the word "Demon", he still had shuriken dug in his flesh, a tanto was thrust into his right shoulder, his entire left torso and thigh was burnt, his right arm was broke so badly the bone was sticking out of the skin, the back of his skull was busted , and his eyes were sliced through.

It was three hours before a lone ANBU with gravity defying gray hair found him. By that time the poor boy was barely breathing and a pool of blood saturated the ground. And, throughout the whole three hours, the sky cried. Cried for the boy that was persecuted for something that he couldn't control.

… 6 years later...

"Alright class, today's the Gennin exams, do your best," Iruka-sensei called out.

I sighed, as I pulsed my chakra out and surveyed the class. I hated it here. I don't even want to think about what would happen if I happen to graduate and get put on a team with one of these people. They all hate me. I gave a dry chuckle. Like I'd graduate. Mizuki-sensei would never let me graduate. Like all the senseis... Well, except Iruka-sensei. Besides JiJi, Ayame, and Teuchi, Iruka-sensei is the only one in this forsaken village that would care if I died. I should know this, I tested the theory 37 times in the last six years. The year I was blinded and nearly crucified to death. And, all on my birthday.

Gosh, I hate my birthday. I hate everyday. I wish I could die. But, no. I'm always saved. By some "miracle" I'm always found before I die. I heard it's either Snake, Weasel, Bear, Cat, Tiger, or, the most often, Dog that finds me. I wish they'd let me die.

"Naruto," Iruka-sensei yelled. "Pay attention. Don't you want to graduate?"

"Hai, hai," I muttered as I start on the test that was laid out in front of me.

I snorted as I notice the genjutsu. I knew Mizuki-sensei would try to sabotage me. I brake the genjutsu and do the real test, then I wait for the others to finish as I follow Shikamaru's lead and take a nap.

...Shika's POV...

He's doing it again. He's letting down his mask. I knew he wasn't what he seemed. I've known it for years. How could I not? He's always letting his mask slip when he thinks no one's looking. He's good though. I'll give him that. It took me a couple months to catch on. I've tried to approach him, but he's too guarded. It's like he thinks everyone is against him... Which could be partly true. I've seen the looks that he gets in the village. The sheer hate the villagers send at him is nauseating. How is he still sane?

Though, maybe he's not. Maybe he just hides it. Just because I know he wares a mask doesn't mean I know what's behind it. I want to know. It's too troublesome to not know. But, the troublesome blonde keeps me at arms lengths. Tch. I'll find out.

I close my eyes again. He's noticed me staring at him. Calculating his actions. He's diffidently not the dead last. Like me, it seems like he's holding back. Not that I can blame him. The Academy is boring and not worth my time. I'd rather be watching clouds than being in this classroom with all these idiots. Well, besides Choji... and Naruto. Maybe Shino. He's smart, if quite.

...Shino's POV...

There it is again. Naruto let his mask down. He looks sad. That's not logical though. Why is he sad? He should be happy that today's the graduation exam. Is he afraid he's not going to pass? No, that's illogical too. I know he's smarter than he looks. So why?

And, cue Shikamaru's staring. Tch. It's almost as if he has a crush. It's a good thing I recognize that look on his face. He's calculating him. Solving a puzzle. And, what a puzzle Uzumaki is... More like a puzzle warped in a mystery wrapped in a riddle and boxed in an enigma. I don't even think Nara Shikaku could solve the mystery of Uzumaki Naruto.

I sigh as Iruka-sensei leads us outside for the taijutsu section of the exams. It's not going to do me any good pondering Naruto and his mask. Maybe one day I'll see the boy behind it, but it's not going to be today. As Shikamaru would say, troublesome. (Across the field Shikamaru sneezes.)

…Third Person POV...

The second portion of the exam was a taijutsu match against Mizuki-sensei. Sakura went first and she was knocked out under a minute. Choji went next, and he got in a good few hits. He lasted the allotted five minute period. After several civilian kids went, it was Shino's turn. He lasted the time limit, but didn't hit Mizuki-sensei once. Next was Ino, she lasted longer than Sakura..., but not by much. Kiba went next, and he hit Mizuki-sensei like Choji, but he was thrown out of the ring a couple seconds before the bell rung. Next was Shikamaru, and he gave up after three minutes saying it was "troublesome when I know that I'm going to lose anyway." A few more civilian kids went then it was Hinata's turn. She lasted throughout the time frame, but didn't get in any hits. Sasuke was next. Mizuki-sensei tried to throw the match for him, but Sasuke only got in one hit, but he lasted the time frame. The last to go was Naruto. Only Shikamaru and Shino noticed that Mizuki-sensei was being harder on Naruto than he was on anyone else. Thankfully, though, Naruto made it exactly to the time frame, even though he didn't get a hit in and got knocked out.

The next test was shuriken and kunai throwing. Sasuke was first this time. He got a 9/10 in both. Sakura was next, but got a 3/10 in shuriken and a 4/10 in kunai. Multiple civilian kids went, then Shikamaru went, getting a 6/10 on the kunai and 7/10 with the shuriken with little effort given. Kiba went next getting a 7/10 in both. Ino got a 4/10 in shuriken and 5/10 in kunai. Hinata got a 6/10 in kunai and 8/10 in shuriken. Shino got a 8/10 in shuriken and a 9/10 in kunai. More civilian went, then Choji got a 7/10 in shurikens and a 9/10 in kunai. Once again, Shino and Shikamaru saw how Mizuki-sensei try to sabotage Naruto. This time he gave Naruto old and unbalances kunai and shuriken. However, Naruto made a 8/10 in shuriken and, surprisingly, a 10/10 in kunai.

The next test was genjutsu. To pass this test you had to get out of the jutsu in under 10 seconds. Kiba got out after 9 seconds. Ino in 4 seconds. Shino in 6 seconds. Civilians went. Sasuke in 7 seconds. Sakura in 2 seconds. Choji in 8 seconds. More civilians went. Shikamaru got out in 5 seconds, then immediately went to sleep. Hinata in 3 seconds. And, Naruto got out barely in 9 seconds. Shikamaru and Shino narrowed their eyes in contemplation, wondering if Mizuki-sensei had anything to do with this development.

...Naruto's POV...

I breathed a sigh of relief. So far so good. All I have to do is get through the next exam. This year I didn't drink the water provided. Last year I was sabotaged with a drug that made my chakra control shot. Now, I can at least barely make a clone. Though, I'm going to hinge my luck on making a shadow clone. I actually got that one from watching Dog fight off a mob on my last birthday. I hope they take it... cause if they don't that means that Shino can't use his bug clone.

One by one my classmates came out with their hiatates. I wait with bated breathe for my name to be called.

"Uzumaki Naruto," Iruka-sensei called.

I took a deep breathe and walked into the room where he was waiting with Mizuki-sensei.

"First do the Henge," he said.

I henged into the Jiji.

"Good," he said. "Kawarimi."

I replaced myself with Mizuki-sensei.

"Good," Iruka-sensei said with a snort of amusement. "Bunshin. Three Bunshins are required to pass."

"Um... Sensei, can I do another type a Bunshin beside the Bunshin no Jutsu?"

"I don't see why not," he said confused.

"Thanks, Iruka-sensei," I cried with fake cheer. "KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"

Five of me stood there in the "Good Guy" pose, our fake smiles lighting up our faces. Iruka-sensei's jaw dropped and Mizuki-sensei fell out of his chair in shock.

"Where did you learn that, Naruto," Iruka-sensei asked astounded.

"I saw Dog doing it when he saved me from a mob last year," I said truthfully. "I remembered the hand sign, so I started to practice the jutsu when I figured I was never going to be able to do the regular Bunshin."

"...I see," Iruka-sensei said.

"Do I pass," I asked.

"Oh," he said embarassed. "Yes. You passed."

"YATTA," I yelled, and I took a hiatate.

The only thing I hopped was that I could get along with my team. If not, then well... attempt number 38 will have to take place; and hopefully be the last.