I do not own Naruto or R.O.D

Prologue

First book

Iruka was covered head to toe in multicolored powder. His brown hair was currently a bright neon red, half his face was white as snow the other puke green. He was dragging along a disgruntled 8 year old. The boy had blonde hair and whisker like scars on his cheeks.

"Iruka sensei where are we going?" The little blonde asked annoyed at being dragged along.

"Naruto we've been over this I'm taking you to the library." Iruka could hear the boy blanching. "That's right this is your punishment I want a five page report on chakra and its use for ninja."

Naruto watched in fear as they got closer and closer to the building in question. He'd heard the other kids at the academy complain about this place, saying it was evil and boring beyond all reason. A place filled with nothing but books. Naruto had never seen a book prior to joining the academy a couple of months ago.

He didn't think books where bad, but the way the other kids complained about them there was defiantly something evil about them. That was what Naruto had decided.

"Your being unfair." Naruto complained as he felt his little body being lifted up by his teacher.

"I'm not being unfair this is your punishment for.. for.. this!" Iruka yelled in anger while his free hand gestured at the dozen or so of powdered colors covering his body. "Now come on this is for your own good."

Iruka pulled the boy along forcibly into the building. The librarian a large woman with thick glasses watched as a clown of chunin ninja was trying to pull a little blonde boy into the library. They where being very loud.

"SHHHHHH quit this is a library not a playground!" She commanded in demanding quit voice getting up glaring at the two.

"Ah sorry forgive us." Iruka apologized in a whisper as the older lady went back to her book. "Ahem now Naruto I'm going to go home and clean up. When I get back I better see some progress."

Iruka watched the boy pout for moment. Looking at the books with something akin to hesitation and fear. Iruka smirked maybe a little motivation would help. "Tell you what Naruto if you have at least two pages of the report done by the time I get back I'll take you out to get ramen."

Naruto's face lite up with excitement. "At Ichiraku?" he asked in an excitement. Getting a nod from his teacher "I'll Have it done in no time then!"

"SHHH Quite!" The librarian said in a yell like whisper. Causing Naruto to flinch.

"Good have it done by the time I get back and i'll treat you to as much as you want." With that said the chunnin teacher disappeared in a swirl of leaf's leaving Naruto in the library alone.

Naruto looked around at the empty library, it was large to the little 8 year old. There where so many shelf's lined with books. He could do this it didn't seem so hard. He started by picking the first book off the shelf. He looked at it inspected it. Eye'd warily before opening it up.

(Three hours later)

"Naruto Naruto Hey Naruto." Iruka called out waving a hand in front of the boys face. Iruka had gone home and showered and decided to wait a couple hours or so and give Naruto a chance to write his report. It was no secret the boy had trouble with scholastic's and would need a little extra time.

Upon returning to the library he had found the blond sitting on the floor next to a pile of books laying on the ground. All his concentration on the book In his hands.

The first thing Iruka noticed was that Naruto was In the fiction section of the library and not anywhere near the area he should have been. But what peaked his interest was what the librarian told him. Apparently Naruto had sat there on the floor quietly the entire time just reading

The blonde blinked his eye's looking up at his teacher. Before he started to panic."Iruka Sensei what are you doing back so soon. That's so unfair."

"What you mean Naruto?" Confusion crossed the adults face.

"But you just left like five minutes ago. No one could write a report that fast." The 8 year old was adamant about this.

"Naruto I've been gone for over three hours." Iruka said looking at the pile of books sitting next to the boy. There where 12 sitting on the floor around him none of them where about Chakra that was for sure. He picked one up one of the books it was called the 9 city's. Iruka had actually read this one a few years back. "Naruto did you read all these."

"Yeah." Naruto looked at his teacher suspiciously. "Why?"

"Don't lie to me Naruto." Iruka flipped open the book. It was hard to believe that Naruto the prankster prince of the academy. Sat still long enough to read twelve books.

"I'm not lying I read all of them."

"Okay what happens in chapter 23 of the 9 citys?" Iruka asked as he read over it. If Naruto really read this then he would know the answer if not then a little humility would do the boy some good. And Iruka could teach him a lesson about lying to a ninja.

"Hmm." Naruto folded his arms in eye's squinted tight in thought before he spook. "Nomri stabbed Haru and stole the box that had the deed to his mothers house but it was actually empty. It was so cool Haru swapped the deeds around tricking Nomri."

"..." Iruka closed the book and picked up another one questioning Naruto on a few scenes from that one. Naruto was really excited as he talked about the story's In each book. The quiz came to an end when the librarian yelled out to them that she was closing up for the day.

"No wait I can't leave yet I haven't written the report." Naruto said in a panic looking at Iruka.

"You know what Naruto It's okay how about I still treat you to ramen."

"Really!" He asked in excited questioning wonder. Iruka nodding his head. As the disgruntled librarian gathered the books from the floor to put back up. Naruto then started in a panic. "Wait I haven't finished that one yet."

"Well then do you have a library card?" The librarian asked adjusting her glasses to look at the book. Naruto just seemed confused.

"Whats a library card?" The librarian sighed obviously annoyed. Whether it was about It being Naruto or her dislike for her job. Iruka couldn't tell.

"Come with me." she said guiding the boy to the front desk. As Iruka watched the scene play out as the librarian explained the purpose of the library and the card. Naruto got really excited when he was told he could take three more books if he wanted.

So the two of them sat at Ichiraku Naruto excitingly talking about the books he borrowed from the library. Iruka Liked this maybe this is what Naruto needs a new outlet something that didn't involve pranks. There was no way this could back fire or become a problem right?

XXXXXXXXXX

The Gutsy Ninja

Bam. Bam. Bam. "Naruto." Bam. Bam. Bam. "Naruto." Naruto opened his eye's yawning listening to the sound as some one banged on the side of his window calling his name. He sat up listening to the banging. As he undid the blinds next to his bed. There sitting on his windowsill glaring at the blonde was his teacher.

Naruto unlatched and opened the window. "Good morning Iruka Sensei." Naruto said yawning some more.

"Naruto your late for class again." Iruka said as he flicked his student in the head. "And I thought you said you where going to clean this mess up."

"I did cleaned it up last month I even moved out some of the book's." Naruto said as reached over to take a glass of water from his night stand. A pile of books stacked on top of each other

"Naruto some doesn't mean anything, when your front door still collapses when someone try's knocking. I was almost buried alive again. I can only ever get into your apartment through the window now. Naruto you have to many books."

"Don't you think its time you got rid of some of them?" Iruka asked looking at the apartment piles and piles of books and scrolls, stacked on top of each other on the table, the couch, the counters, from the floor to the ceiling, books upon books everywhere. The only place that didn't have books stacked together was the bed by the window and the stove.

"No way I won't do it. I can't just throw them out there all special. Each one has a story all its own." Naruto said with a fond smile looking at the stacks of book's.

Iruka sighed he knew, he wasn't going to get Naruto to budge on this subject. Oh kami he'd tried In the past but it was impossible Naruto absolutely loved his books. He wasn't seen with out at least two or three with him at any time. Iruka wasn't sure what to make of this honestly.

He had thought it was a good thing at first. Naruto had found something else to occupy his time with besides pranks. Naruto had played less then ten pranks in the last five years since he started his hobby. The only time he seemed to go out and pull a prank was when he seemed especially lonely.

Hell Naruto's study's in the ninja arts had improved immensely, due to the amount of reading material he invested in. He was currently in the middle of the class ranking because of it. Although those where the only good things about it. He stayed up late reading until he either finished a new book or passed out. He was constantly skipping class to either go to the book store or the library. Two new book stored had opened in the last couple of years. Thanks to the volume Naruto seemed to buy books in.

"Naruto maybe you should be a librarian or bookstore owner." Iruka said as the boy changed his cloths.

"No way A hokage can't be a librarian." Naruto said with total conviction although the thought did sound appealing. "I have to become hokage that way the rest of the village will have to respect me."

"Well your not going to become hokage. If your constantly late for class." Iruka scolded as he grabbed Naruto by the collar of his jumpsuit. "Listen I don't doubt you can pass the written portion of the exams, but that means nothing if you can't pass the practical portion which counts as three quarters of your grade. As it stands you have to get and 80 or higher to pass tomorrow your grades are all but practically failing"

Iruka made a hand sign and they both vanished in a swirl of wind and leaves appearing in the middle of a class room. " Now then since you missed it every body line up. Where having a pop quiz on the transformation justsu."

There where groans from the students as they started to complain as one by one they got up and into the line. Okay first up is Sakura Haruno." Iruka said as the pink haired step forward transforming into a perfect copy of her teacher. "Good job."

The smoke dispelled as the girl felt proud of her self looking towards her crush to see if he was paying attention. He wasn't. "Next Sasuke Uchiha." A boy with a scowl stepped foreword and transformed into an exact copy of Iruka.

"Good next Naruto Uzumaki...Naruto...Naruto...NARUTO PAY ATTENTION!" Iruka shouted out as he threw the clipboard at the blonde who had his nose in a book. The clipboard collided with the boys forehead knocking him back and onto the ground.

"HEY WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!" Naruto yelled out in angry disgruntled pain rubbing his forehead.

"Its your turn to do the transformation!" Iruka called out as Naruto jumped to his feet. Making a hand sighn.

"Fine Tranform!" when the smoke cleared a woman wearing a loos kimono stood before the class she had pale porcelain like skin. Deep blue eye's and long black hair that fell past her waist. She was holding the kimono closed with one hand as a portion of it slid past her shoulder revealing some skin. She then spoke in a sultry voice. "How is this Iruka-sen..sama." She diverted her eyes a blush apparent on her face.

"..." Iruka a dribble of blood slid done his nose. Before his face turned red and he punched the girl on the head hard a pop of smoke and Naruto was standing there "CUT THAT OUT NARUTO?"

"Ow come on don't you like it that was Yumi from that dirty book you've been secretly reading in class. hahaha" Naruto said laughing at his teachers expense.

Iruka felt his anger boiling while looking at the blond boy. Iruka pulled out some rope. He kept on hand just for this type of situation. "NARUTO!"

So Naruto sat there tied up and gagged for the rest of the day. There was no way Naruto could ever forgive Iruka for this.

XXXXXXXXXX

(Ichiraku)

It always amazed Iruka how fast Naruto was willing to forgive him when he mentioned treating the boy to ramen.

"Oh wow that smells good. Thanks Iruka Sensei."

"No problem Naruto. I've also got a surprise for you." The Chunnin said as he reached into his ninja pouch pulling out the second best thing Naruto loved beyond all reason.

"You got me a new book." Naruto reached to take it only for Iruka to pull it away. "Hey what gives?"

"Not so fast Naruto you can have this after the graduation test tomorrow."

"Ah that's so unfair come on let me at least read the title." Naruto asked trying to reach for it only for the skilled chunnin to pull it out of his grasp. "Maybe I've Already read it before."

"I doubt it I've never seen or heard of it my self apparently it wasn't very popular. I'll tell you the title of the book its called The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi . I bought It off a traveling merchant the other day after reading the first chapter." Iruka said as he showed the cover for Naruto to see it. He didn't mention he got it for cheap though. Apparently the merchant didn't like the book and had it for at least a few years.

"Well then I guess I'll have to pass the exam tomorrow then you have to give me that book." Naruto said as he looked his sensei in the eye's. "Hey Sensei if you won't give me that book, could I maybe try on your head band instead please?"

Iruka smirked at Naruto who was sort of begging him. "Well I guess I could." Iruka started to take off only to flick Naruto in in the for head. "Ha gotcha sorry Naruto, but this headband is for Ninja of the leaf your going to have to pass your exam like everyone else to get yours."

"Ahhhh your so mean Sensei."

"HAHAHA Don't worry Naruto You'll have your own headband some day."

"Stop picking on me sensei come on."

"Alright you pass the exam and I'll give you my headband."

"Oh please if I pass the gennin exam I want a new one not that old scratched up one." Naruto humphed as he started to slurp down the rest of his noodles. He clapped his hand and thanked the old cook in the back. "See you tomorrow sensei. I've got to study and get ready."

XXXXXXXXXX

The next day Naruto woke up early he went to bed early despite having a new book to read last night. He was intent on passing this time. Besides he'd have plenty of time to read today. He then began to dig through the piles of books gathering the ninja gear he needed today. A cup of instant ramen for breakfast and he was ready to face the day.

He had passed the written portion. No problem and despite acing the written portion along with the practical knowledge kunai skills and taijutsu he sort of passed. The jutsu portion which counted for half his grade he failed. In other words he failed the exam. The only comfort he got out of it was that he did get the top score and beat Sasuke Uchiha in the written portion. All though his over all score was a whopping 54% less then 26 points below the needed score to pass.

So he sat outside face buried in a book trying to ignore the happy student who passed or the adults who where glaring in his direction with those cold eyes. "The only comfort I have now."

Iruka hadn't even tried to help. It wasn't his fault he couldn't make a stupid clone. He read everything he could and put into practice what he read but none of it had helped him at all to make a clone he'd only made one at was a sickly color and looked ready to die.

"Hey there Naruto." Naruto looked up to see one of the other instructors of the academy. A white haired chunnin named.

"Mizuki Sensei?"

"Hey there Naruto Iruka asked me to give this to you." The chunnin held out the book from the night before. The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi written on the front.

"Thank you Mizuki Sensei." Naruto said accepting the book quietly. He looked at the book solemnly. "Iruka said he'd give it to me after I passed." 'I guess that's why Mizuki Sensei's giving it to me.'

"Hey Naruto come and talk with me."

XXXXXXXXXX

Iruka was laying on his be he had talked with the Hokage In his office after the graduation exam. They had discussed Naruto and the Hokage had given his thoughts on the boy. The Hokage words echoing through his head. "He didn't grow up knowing the love of a parent much like your self Iruka. The people of this village stare at him with those cold eye's. Unforgiving in there judgment of him. I think he himself find's comfort in books because they don't reject him and can give the happiness the villagers won't because of what he is. He must find the story's of others and there adventure's more exciting wishing they could be his story.'

There was banging on his front door. "Iruka Iruka wake up." Iruka rushed to the door opening it to see his friend and fellow instructor at the academy. "Iruka Naruto has stolen the scroll of sealing!"

"What that can't be." 'Naruto what are you doing?' Iruka thought in panic that was grounds for execution. "I'll go out and search for him."

Iruka lept of jumping from roof top to roof top he had to think where would Naruto go and why would he do something so foolish and reckless how did he even know about the forbidden scroll of sealing?

He knew of at least one place Naruto would go in order to hide from someone a place in the forest. Iruka was in such a panic that he didn't notice someone fallowing him.

XXXXXXXXXX

This was so easy He had beaten old man hokage by transforming into a revealing woman and stolen the scroll under the desk in the old mans office. After that he did as Mizuki said find a place to hid and learn one of the jutsu inside before someone caught him and he would pass the gennin exam.

He speed read through five different Jutsu he would have loved to learn them all but he only had enough time to try and practice one of them. Before Iruka landed in the clearing called out his name. "Naruto."

"Ah you found me Iruka sensei." Naruto said complain a little that his teacher had come. "I only managed to learn one of them."

Iruka walked forward looking Naruto over on the ground was the scroll of sealing and a open book. It looked as though he'd been training for several hours now. Naruto folded up the scroll and picked up the book. It was the book he was intent on giving Naruto after he graduated why did he have it?

"So do I pass now?" Naruto asked in excitement. Clutching the book close to his chest.

"Naruto what are you talking about?"

"Well after Mizuki Sensei gave me the book he told me about this secret test."

"Test?" Iruka was starting to connect dots and he didn't like them.

"Yeah he said that if I could learn one jutsu from this scroll before you found me I'd pass and be gennin Mizuki Sensei said so." Naruto had a huge grin plastered on his face. "I even managed to finish the book too it"NARUTO MOVE!" Iruka shouted as he pushed the blond out of the way as a hail of Kunia came flying at him.

"Iruka Sensei" Naruto thought in alarmed fear as he saw his sensei get hit by a few of them.

"Here you are found you thanks Iruka. I was having a little bit of trouble trying to find the little runt but thanks to you. Know I have him"

"Mizuki You tricked Naruto in to stealing the forbidden scroll."

"Tricked?" Naruto wondered out loud.

"Hurry Naruto give it to me before Iruka takes it from you.

"Don't he's lying to you don't give it to him."

"Lets not talk about lying Iruka. Want to know another secret Naruto everyone knows about it but you."

"Knows about what?"

"Don't tell him Mizuki its forbidden."

"The truth about 13 years ago."

"Mizuki Shut up."

"The truth about what really happened to the nine tailed fox."

"The nine tails." Naruto had a nervous feeling he'd read all about it heard all about it. What did he have to do with the nine tails.

"Yes the truth is that you Naruto Uzumaki are the nine tails."

"Mizuki that's enough shut up."

"Its the reason the village hates you Naruto its the reason Iruka really hates."

"Stop it." Iruka pleaded

"Don't you think it was strange the way they hated you just for being alive." Mizuki said as Naruto slowly started to understand it was making sense. But It had to be a lie "Thats why you'll Never be excepted."

"No your your lying." Naruto was uncertain himself he wanted to believe Mizuki was lying to him. Mizuki saw this distraction and took taking one of the large Fuma Shuriken on his back and throwing at Naruto.

"Naruto!" Iruka yelled pushing the boy down to the ground as the massive shuriken crashed into his back.

"Iruka sensei. Why?"

"Naruto your not the fox its only sealed inside you." Iruka smiled down at him. "Its because where the same I didn't have any family either growing up I became the class clown so people would notice me."

"I was worried that you would be the same way when you where younger pulling pranks just so people would look at you. Thats why I was happy you found something that brought you joy. So you wouldn't make the same mistakes I did." Iruka looked at the book clutched in Narutos hands. "But you still feel lonely and hurts inside it feels empty. I'm sorry I couldn't have been there for you more."

Naruto watched as the man he called sensei. The man could have called father began to cry. " I'm sorry I let you down."

"Oh shut up Iruka You hate that brat more then anyone in this village. He's the on that killed your parents." Mizuki called out. "He's just lying to you Naruto so he can get the scroll from you."

This was what set Naruto off as he moved out from under Iruka and Started running as fast as he could. Away from both of them. He didn't know who to believe he was confused and it hurt inside.

He jumped from tree to tree trying to get away he wasn't sure where he was going. He could hear them catching up. He stopped dropping to ground level to hide. Clutching onto the scroll and book in his arms.

"Why are you trying to protect that freak He's the one who killed your family."

"I don't care what you say your not going to get that scroll Mizuki." Naruto tightened his hands on the scroll

"Oh so the Nine tails having the scroll is better he'll just poor his rage and anger into the scroll and destroy the village that's just the way monsters are."

"Your right Mizuki that is how monsters are." Naruto felt like he was dying was that really what Iruka felt. 'He really doesn't believe in me he doesn't care at all. He thinks I'm just a monster.' Naruto thought clutching the scroll and book in his hands until they turned white Naruto looked down staring at the book. 'Then why would he give me something like this. Is he just making fun of me.'

"But he's not a monster he's Naruto Uzumaki Of the leaf village. He works hard and can be an exceptional student, when he wants to be. Sure he's clumsy and single minded and messes up some times, but who doesn't. He knows suffering and that's what separates him from being a monster." Iruka spoke with total conviction sure that what he said was absolutely the truth.

"Heh what a bunch of dribble I was going to save you for latter but I've changed my mind I think I'll kill you now Iruka." Mizuki took the shuriken from his back and began to spin it in his hands. As he charged at Iruka slumped against a tree.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" The fuma shurikan came to a complete stop hitting a long line of Paper that cut the four sharpened edges apart. Iruka and Mizuki where stunned the line of paper ended where Naruto stood holding the edge of it. Iruka glanced at the paper and saw they where the pages of the book The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi.

Mizuki was utterly stunned he had never heard of a jutsu like this. "Don't you dare touch him or I'll kill you."

A strong gust of wind came blowing through the forest blowing away the pages as Naruto charged at Mizuki rammed into the Chunnin's side knocking him down.

"I don't know how you did that you little brat but it won't help you I'll crush you with one move." Mizuki got to his feet with trained ease. Making a series of hand signs

"Try It I'll send it back ten fold." Naruto said as he crossed his fingers gathering a massive amount of chakra. He then in puff of smoke hundreds of Naruto filled the forest. "Get him."

Iruka watched in wonder as Naruto made over a hundred solid clones. And that thing with the paper did he learn that from the scroll too?

Moments later Mizuki laid on the ground beaten within an inch of his life. "Naruto that was amazing I thought you said you learned only one jutsu from the scroll."

Naruto was smiling but frowned. "I did only learn one but that thing I did with the book I don't know how I did it. It just seemed natural I guess."

Iruka watched Naruto closely as the boy spoke about it feeling natural. 'Was it some kind of Kekkei Genkai?' Naruto's eye's where shut brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to think about it. "AH OH NO."

"Whats wrong Naruto?" Iruka watched as the boy started to panic as he pulled out the cover of The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi.

"Its ruined ah I hadn't finished it yet." Naruto said dejectedly tears brimming on the edges of his eye's.

"hahahAHAHAHA" Iruka started to laugh loudly as Naruto looked up at his sensei. "Naruto come here and close your eye's."

Naruto did as he instructed a little reluctant. "Well then hows about this instead of the book." he heard Iruka say. "Now open them."

When Naruto did he saw Iruka's head bang was gone and he was holding a pair of green goggles. His eye's widened as he reached for his forehead there he felt a piece of metal with the indention of a leaf symbol. "Congratulations Naruto you pass. And as a treat I'll take you out for ramen to make up for the book all you can eat."

Naruto felt like he was going to cry "Iruka Sensei." the blonde cried joyously as he hugged on to his favorite teacher.

XXXXXXXXXX

Author note:

Meh I've been thinking of doing a naruto fic for a while

Ishould really try and finish the other three I have but I've kind of hit writers block with them maybe writeing something diffrent will help.

Anyway this a sort of crossover with the Read or die seirse I'm only taking the basic premis of that and none of the characters from it so I'm just going to toss it into the Naruto part of ff instead of the cross over part since I'm just taking the powers of the paper masters.