Bound through Fear

Chapter One, Part One: The Red Man.

"The will is not free – it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect – but there is something behind the will which is free."

-Swami Vivekanada

Peaceful, perhaps the best and only way for Hiruzen Sarutobi to describe the day. It is days like this that the elderly man can't stop himself from thinking back to the horrible event that happened fifteen years ago, that day had been one of the worst in the history of the village he once again rules over. The night their previous leader sacrificed himself and the life of his only son to cage a great demon.

'I just hope Minato and Kushina could forgive me for what had to be done.' Hiruzen thinks to himself before turning to work on his paper work.

Today is the day of the genin academy exams and this year's crop is looking good in terms of functionality, unlike the graduates of the past the academy standards have been raised slightly. Instead of graduating at the age of twelve the students now graduate around fifteen. Aside from the age change and several smaller things like adding extra things to the class curriculum like slightly harder chakra control techniques. The fact that it is made up mostly of clan heirs is also a nice plus in his book.

Speaking of which now is the moment that the elderly Kage has to decide what team a certain blond haired killing machine should be placed on, after deciding who he is to be teamed with then the long process of finding a sensei for each team but first is building the teams themselves.

'I should have assistants for this crap.' Hiruzen thinks to himself with a sigh. Looking to the clock that sat on the left corner of his desk Sarutobi curses and quickly leaves his office to retrieve the weapon from his holding cell in the ANBU headquarters. As part of the deal made on the day of his sealing it was decided that number Nine as he is now referred to, would be introduced to the children who are to graduate. To be fair to the rest he will also take the test to graduate but unknown to the rest even if he did fail which wasn't likely in the first place, then he would go back to being sent on solo missions by the Hokage.

Passing through the entrance of ANBU headquarters and down the halls leading to the high threat prisoner holding cells Hiruzen finds himself staring at the cell door to Nine's room, with a sigh the once retired shinobi pushed the door open exposing the sight of a heavily chained up figure.

Set on the floor in the center of the room on both of his knees is a man wearing a heavily tattered dark red cloak, the collar of which hides the lower half of his face while the top half is covered by a steel mask with no eye holes and only two holes in the nose guard. The only indication of clothing under the cloak is the heavy buckle and chain riddled leather padding covering his legs and boots.

Upon stepping in the room Naruto lifts his head as if to greet his leader. "Good morning Naruto-kun, how are you?" Hiruzen asks but like every other day his question and greeting is met with complete silence, the only noise coming from the bound teen is the very faint sound of breathing. "Nine." Hiruzen says gaining the full attention of the young man evidence being the quick snap of his head looking directly at the Hokage.

"Nine, today you are going to the academy, you are to pass the graduation tests with the rest of the class taking the exam and should you pass you will be placed on a team." The Kage continues to say no longer expecting a response from the boy. Flashing through several handsigns and flaring his chakra a bit made the chains holding him to the floor unhook themselves from Nine's body.

"Come with me." He says and the two make their way back to the lobby of ANBU headquarters, the agents they passed along the way couldn't help but stop and stand to the side as their leader and his most powerful weapon walked the halls.

Ninja Academy, two hours before the exam.

Iruka the normally happy and loving teacher of the academy is visibly nervous, even the students can tell he is a little off which most found odd. Then again a lot of them brushed it off as unimportant seeing as today is graduation day and their first step into their careers as shinobi.

With shaky hands Iruka and his partner Mizuki who also seemed scared for some reason began roll call. "Shikamaru Nara."

A lazy looking teen with his hair tied up like a pineapple looked up from his nap for a couple seconds and gave a halfhearted "Here." Before mumbling something about troublesome teachers ruining a good dream. "Chouji Akimichi." A larger boy munching on a bag of chips gives a muffled "Here Sensei." Whilst spitting bits of chip from his mouth. "Shino Aburame."

A teen hidden from the rest by a high collared hooded jacket and sun-glasses says "Present." In a slightly monotone voice. "Kiba Inuzuka" A boy wearing a hooded coat with fur lining the hood yells "Here and so is Akamaru!" followed by a bark from the dog who is with him.

'Okay then…' Iruka thinks to himself. "Hinata Hyuuga." "H-here!" a dark blue haired girl responds in an almost squeak out of place for a shinobi. "Ino Yamanaka." A kunoichi to be ignored the calling for her name and opted for staring at a boy with spiked back duck hair and ebony eyes, 'Oh Sasuke-kun if only you wou—' her thoughts were quickly interrupted by a flying piece of chalk that struck her in the head.

"Pay attentions miss Yamanaka!" Mizuki yells over the class earning several snickers from the surrounding students. Blushing in embarrassment she quickly nods "Gomen Sensei." She says in a low tone of voice with her head down a bit. "Thanks you Mizuki, now then Sakura Haruno." Iruka continues with a shake of the head. 'Fan-girls…'

"Here, Iruka Sensei!" A pink haired girl sitting next to Ino almost yells before sticking her tongue out at said blond girl, earning a small glare and growl from her in the process. "Okay, Sasuke Uchiha." "Hnn." Is the completely logical and totally acceptable way a certain dark haired duck brooder responds when called upon by his sensei and instructor over the last seven or so years.

"Right then…" Iruka says with a roll of the eyes before going over the less important students on the list before once again getting the attention of the class for a small announcement. "Okay everybody listen up!" Iruka says waiting for all eyes to be on him.

"Today we will be receiving a new student who is going to be taking the graduation exams with the rest of you." Iruka announces and on cue the classroom erupts with shouts of outrage and unfairness followed by some more discreet whispers between students.

"Quiet down!" Iruka says only to be outmatched in sounds by one Sakura Haruno who yells "What do you mean he is just joining the academy now and gets to graduate with us!?" followed by "Yeah what the banshee said, how is that fair for those of us who had to sit through your boring ass lectures!" from Kiba and a bark from his companion.

"It's fair because lord Hokage said it is so sit down and shut the hell up!" Mizuki who inwardly had to agree with the students knowing exactly who was being added to his class. "Thank you Mizuki, now then you are all to sit down and wait quietly until the new student arrives." Iruka orders shutting up the rest who had still been whispering to one another.

With that said the two instructors left the classroom in order to go meet the Hokage outside the academy. While those two were waiting outside the students in the class once more began talking between themselves.

"So who do you think this new guy is?" Kiba asks Shino who gives a slight shrug in return.

"He must be really troublesome if he is coming on order of the Hokage." Shikamaru says lazily with his head resting on his desk.

"We won't know until we see him, hopefully he is cute though!" Ino says getting several sighs from around the class in response. The class was forced to wait until about nine fifteen AM before the doors to the classroom opened again and four people walked in.

Standing in between the two instructors and the third Hokage is the strangest if not scariest looking person some of them have ever seen, "Alright class quiet down please, lord Hokage has an announcement to make to you all."

Stepping forward the Hokage clears his throat getting everyone's attention "First off I would like to introduce you to a new student, Nine step forward." Hiruzen says followed by the cloaked figure stepping up to the front of the class next to his leader.

"Everybody this is Nine, he will be joining you for your exams and if all goes well will be on one of your teams." He says with an innocent smile while both instructors are sweating along with the less brave of the student body.

"Uhm H-Hokage-sama, are you sure that isn't dangerous to the other students?" Iruka asks fearfully.

"Of course it is safe, he has never attacked a leaf ninja since he started training and as long as nobody here attacks him for no reason then their lives are completely out of danger around him." Hiruzen explains still sporting a smile.

Iruka nods and then steps back for his leader to continue. Hiruzen then turns around and leans in to whisper his orders to Nine, "Follow Iruka's' instructions until I order otherwise, once graduation is over you are to return to base and rest before team meetings tomorrow."

"Hai Hokage-sama…" Is the empty response of the cloaked figure, the lack of emotion in his tone unnerved a decent amount of the students there. "Iruka." Hiruzen says snapping the man's attention to himself.

"Yes Hokage-sama?" Iruka asks turning his attention to the cloaked teen and to his leader once more. "He will follow your commands for the duration of the test, know that if you wish for him to do something complicated like sparing then you need to be specific in your commands or he will improvise." He pauses for a breath before saying, "Also under no circumstances are you or any of the students to remove his mask or arm restrictions am I clear?" Hiruzen states and with another warm smile and a good luck speech to the would be graduates the elder left the room before anyone could give an answer.

With the elder gone all eyes were drawn back to the ever silent and motionless Red cloaked man known now as Nine. "Okay…well let's see, Nine go and take a seat next to Sasuke for the written portion of the exam." Iruka orders and like a well-trained dog Nine quickly walked to and sat down in the empty chair to Sasuke's right.