Chapter 1: Obsession for Excellence

If you could describe Naruto Namikaze with one word, it would be; airhead.

He always seemed so distracted, finishing his sentences with 'I suppose' or 'I think'. Many times, he doesn't pay attention to what people say to him. Because of this, his classmates think that he is lazy or dumb.

Something that can't be more fake.

Yes, he admits he can get distracted easily, that he can forget things that are not that important or not interest him, but he works hard, study a lot about things he cares about. Like?

Puppets.

It is weird isn't it? A konoha student, son of two of konoha's greatest shinobi, interested in Suna's premiere shinobi arts.

Well, it started in one of his usual trips to the library, when he was 8. He walked towards the library while his parents trained his brother, Shingeku, the jinchuriki of the Kyubi. He feels that he would annoy them, so he goes to the library to read something. Sometimes, it would be a novel. Sometimes, scrolls about sealing and poison. Those were always interesting.

But one day, he found a dusty book. He took it out and read the title; Art of Puppeteering by Chiyo.

He tilted his head. Puppeteering? What's that? With nothing better to do, he sat down and read it. And was hypnotized by that.

Puppets... were so many things in one. And from that day, he got obsessed with learning that art. He didn't rent the book, he bought it, alongside many scrolls of sealing and poisons.

That night he didn't sleep. He read the entire book multiple times, memorizing every detail and writing down the most important points.

After 6 months of learning about sealing, poisons, medicine (to get antidotes), and puppets, he finally decided to make one.

Asking his mother, Kushina to help him buy the things he needed and she accepted when he said "I want to try something." She thought it was some sort of game he wanted, or a kunai set.

Not wood, nails, wires and metal. And they bought a lot from the store. The next stop was a ninja weapon shop. From there, they bought, many, many senbons. He wanted to take some poison, but Kushina thought that was too much.

Walking towards their next stop, Kushina finally asked "Son, what are you trying to do?"

Naruto looked at the sky and Kushina was fairly sure, he already forgot. Instead he said "A puppet."

Kushina blinked "Like a puppet from Suna?" Naruto nodded "Then why don't we ask if they can send us one already-"

"I want one, made by me. The book said it was better that way. I think." Naruto said as they stopped in front of the Yamananka flower shop. "We're here."

Kushina raised a brow "Why you need flowers?"

"If I can get poison, flowers will have to do. I suppose."

They entered and they were greeted by Inoichi Yamananka and his daughter Ino. "I didn't know you liked flowers Naruto." She said excitedly and Naruto tilted his head.

"Neither did I. Anyway, I need some flowers." He said taking out a paper and started to read it. "Gardenias, Jasmine, Lavender, Aloe Vera, Peace Lily, Snake Plant, Carolina Jessamine, and a Acmella oleracea."

Inoichi blinked. Those flowers and plants were... specific. The first 6 he said can cause sleep, the carolina jessamine can cause paralysis and the acmella can cause numbness.

Ino had other worries "Those are ugly! Why don't you take a pretty one?" she demanded and Naruto shrugged.

"Okay. What is a pretty flower?"

As Ino started to take Naruto to her favorite flowers, Inoichi turned to Kushina "Why does he needs this?"

Kushina shrugged "He wants to make a puppet, like the ones from Suna. But I am honestly at loss why he wants flowers."

Inoichi thought why he could want flowers. The logical thing, would be if he wants to extract the substance from each flower to make it in some sort of poison. He shook his head. There is no way, he would do that.

Days later, he heard from Minato that Naruto was in the hospital because he got poisoned with a toxin that numbed his arm.

He started to know the boy, because he stopped a lot in their shop and always buyed the same flowers. And somehow, he became friends with her daughter.

"Naruto, from where did you learn to make poison and toxins?" Inoichi one day asked the boy when he was waiting for Ino.

"I read it from books." Naruto said and Inoichi knew that this boy was way more that the eye met. Under the airhead, there seemed to be a genius.

He smiled at him, already having a future prospect for an apprentice.

*4 Years Later*

Naruto's room is always dark. The curtains are closed, the light is always turned off, and the only thing that makes sure that he can see his work, is a candle. Multiple wooden limbs and heads were sprawled on the floor, and some were hanging on the wall. Next to his worktable, there was a scroll with the kanji of 'Rest'.

Naruto was putting the finishing touches to his second puppet. After he finished his first, which he named Morpheus, he dedicated the rest of his time to control it at perfection. To manage to control each limb while moving his fingers... it felt... magical.

He stared at his newest puppet. It was a humanoid puppet, the size of an adult, was wearing ragged trousers, a black coat that reached its knees, left open to see it's torso, having three compartments, two on each pectoral and one on the abdomen. A hoodie covered its head and grey hair could be seen poking out. On its left hand, it was holding a scythe.

Chakra strings came from Naruto finger tips in each hand, attaching themselves to the puppet. Moving his fingers, the puppet took some hesitant steps before starting to move around the room.

Naruto smiled softly. He sealed the puppet in a scroll with the kanji of 'Death'. He rubbed his eyes and asked out loud "What hour is it?" He said as he grabbed both scrolls holding each puppet and putting them inside his light green jacket. He was wearing a white shirt, under it a mesh shirt, grey ninja pants and blue sandals. He also had tape on his wrists covering his whole forearm. His hair was dirty and greasy and has heavy bags under his eyes.

"Bro! Your girlfriend is waiting for you!" Shingeku screamed and Naruto blinked.

"I have a girlfriend?" He asked as Shingeku opened the door to his room. His brother was red haired, blue eyes, three whisker marks on each cheek and tan skin.

Shingeku sighed "It was a joke. Ino is here."

"Oh. Why?" Shingeku passed a hand across his face and passed across the disaster that is his brother room, trying to not step in any part or a nail. Or a poisoned senbon.

"Today is graduation! Let's go!" He said as Naruto said 'Oh' before being dragged out by his brother.

Ino was tapping her foot against the ground as the two Namikazes appeared "Good! You apeared! Now let's go! I don't want to keep Sasuke waiting any longer." She ordered and Shingeku rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. See you at the academy love birds!" He teased and Ino growled at the running red-head.

"Your brother is really annoying." She said as Naruto stared into the air "What are you doing?"

"Looking for those love birds. I never saw those birds before. I think." Ino rolled her eyes and dragged Naruto by the arm, he keeping his bored expression.

"By the way, how much did you sleep?"

"30 minutes. I think."

*At the Academy*

Naruto was making an origami, as he sat next to Hinata Hyuga, the shy girl watching how the paper became a bird. He showed it to her and she bushed "It is your turn now. I suppose."

Hinata nodded. She and Naruto are good friends. Ino is busy trying (and failing) to impress Sasuke, so he hangs out with Hinata.

As she was making her origami, Iruka entered the class. He said a speech about how proud he was of each one of them. Naruto drone off. He stared at the ceiling until he heard his name. "...Naruto Namkaze, Kiba Inuzuka, and Ino Yamananka. Your sensei is Kurenai Yuuhi."

Naruto saw (and heard) how Ino complained that she wasn't with Sasuke before droning off away.

He wasn't sure how much time passed, before he heard a dog barking at him. He looked down and saw a small puppy on the ground, barking at him "Hey... are you lost? I suppose."

"What? No, you idiot! This is Akamaru!" Kiba said to him and Akamru nodded in agreement.

"Right." Naruto nodded "You need something? I suppose." he asked and Kiba groaned.

"We are a team. And Ino wants us to sit together." He explained as Ino arrived.

"Our sensei will be here any second now and-" She was interrupted when the door was opened and a beautiful woman entered.

"Team 8, follow me." She said before exiting.

"Let's go." Ino said and Naruto tilted his head.

"Why?"

"We are Team 8, idiot." Kiba said.

"Oh."

*Training Ground 6*

"So, team, let's start with introductions." Kurenai instructed as she studied her team. Naruto was staring into nothing of the sky, Ino was making sure her hair was still combed and Kiba excited.

"I'll start!" Kiba stated loudly "My name is Kiba Inuzuka and this is Akamaru!" He stated and Kurenai nodded.

"Continue. Say your likes, dislikes, hobbies and dreams."

Kiba nodded "My likes are dogs, I dislike cats, my hobby is to train with Akamaru and my dream is to be the next Inuzuka clan's head!"

Kurenai smiled and turned to Naruto "You're next." She said and Naruto said nothing. Ino sighed.

"Naruto!" She screamed at his ear making him flinch. He looked at his surroundings confused.

"What happened?"

Kurenai sighed "It is your turn to introduce yourself."

"Oh. Hello, I am Naruto."

"Your likes, dislikes, hobbies and dreams please." Kurenai said kindly and Naruto nodded.

"I like puppets and... nothing else, I think. I dislike... things, I suppose. My hobby is to make puppets and practice with them and y dream... I wish to achieve perfection." Naruto said before looking at the sky again.

Kurenai turned to Ino, still thinking about his second genin explanation. Ino smiled "My name is Ino Yamananka, I like flowers and Sasuke. I dislike loud-mouthed people and idiots. My dream is to marry Sasuke and my hobby is gardening."

Kurenai had to suppress a groan. She has an over excited kid, an airhead and a fangirl. This will take some time.

"Well, my name is Kurenai Yuuhi. I like sakura trees, I dislike perverts, my hobby is to read and my dream... I haven't tought of that. Now, for the test-"

"Wait! What test!?" Kiba screamed and Kurenai smiled.

"To see if you become a genin."

"B-But, we already passed." Ino suggested weakly and Kurenai chuckled.

"No, this is the real test. The test where only 33% of the graduates pass and the rest are sent into the academy." Kiba and Ino's eyes widen as Naruto was still starring into space "And the test is simple. You need to capture me." She said and Kiba grinned.

"This will be easy! Let's go Akamaru!" He exclaimed and Akamaru barked in agreement. The bark seemed to bring Naruto back to Earth.

"Hmm? What happened?"

Kiba growled "Don't worry, I'll handle this." He said but before he could rush to her, he found caught in trees. "What?"

Kurenai smiled "Genjutsu."

Naruto took from his jacket the scroll of Rest. Kurenai raised an eyebrow as she watched Naruto stood up as Ino helped Kiba break the genjutsu.

Naruto opened it and from the puff of smoke, a puppet, the size of an adult, wearing a purple cloak, blue hair, one big purple eye, needless as fingers came out and chakra strings connected to it from Naruto's fingertips.

Naruto tilted his head to the side "Don't worry Sensei. The toxin of Morpheus isn't lethal."

Kiba broke free and got next to the puppet "So... what can you do with this thing?"

"Neutralize and capture. I suppose." Naruto said as he sent the puppet forward with a movement of his arms.

Moving his fingers, Morpheus right hand extended, opened it and a compartment opened sending a barrage of senbons to Kurenai that jumped to avoid them. "Kiba, you should attack now. I think." Naruto said and Kiba grinned.

"Tsuga! (Passing Fang)" Kiba screamed as he moved at a great speed trying to tackle Kurenai. Kurenai saw this and kicked Kiba away before noticing Ino threw some kunai at her.

She deflected the kunais and saw that the puppet was moving again. This time, with its left arm it threw senbon at her. While Naruto caught Kiba falling "Why didn't you attack earlier?!" He demanded and Naruto tilted his head.

"You were in the way." Naruto said as he watched two senbons, hit Kurenai in the arm, making her right arm go stiff. She landed and saw the state of her arm.

"A paralysis toxin?" She asked and Naruto nodded.

"Yes. It has an effect of two hours, but it can go earlier with the antidote." Naruto said and then nodded at Kiba.

"Tsuga!" Kiba launched himself again this time Kurenai jumped to the side just for the puppet to stab its right hand into her left tight.

She started to feel that leg go numb and barely felt it. She smiled. "Thank kami I'm not real." She said before fading away.

"Eh!? What the hell?!" Kiba screamed and Naruto tilted his head.

"Genjutsu. I suppose."

"W-Where did she go!?" Ino screamed as Kurenai jumped from a tree.

"I'm here Ino. And you three pass." She said as Ino smiled Kiba celebrated and Naruto looked at the sky. "We have a lot of things to work over, but we will see about them when the time comes. Now, who wants to celebrate?"

Next Chapter: Petulant Child