Phoenix enters the room and says, "Kage Bunshiin no Jutsu"

V.C. enters to see ten Phoenix's "Uh Uh Not Again! Nope! Frostwing I'm tagging you in."

Frostwing walks in looks around and sighs "Fine."

V.C. cackles like a mad man and jumps out a window shattering it.

Frostwing: That guy watches too much Rick and Morty.

Phoenix1: Hi Frostwing. Just finished writing the first chapter of our newest story.

Frostwing: Cool now can you just do the disclaimer and dispel the clones.

Phoenix 5: Fine. We do not own Naruto. (poof)

Naruto: Into Shadows

Chapter 1: The Prankster King of Konoha

Naruto woke early that morning and immediately began his routine. He started by taking a shower as usual. When he turned on the water he found it was ice cold. "Landlord must have shut it off again." He said agitated.

After taking his shower he went to his closet for a change of clothes. Upon first inspection one would only see a wall of orange upon opening the closet, But to the trained eye one could see a set of loose floorboards on the floor of the closet. Naruto knelt down and pried up the loose boards. Inside the hidden compartment was a set of clothes which were decidedly less flashy and noticeable and on one side there was a hilt for some kind of blade. Naruto gazed upon the clothes with a sad smile. "Soon they'll all see who I really am, but for now I have to keep up the mask." Naruto said before the serious look on his face was replaced with the goofy smile that hid his true self from the world.

Naruto walked out the door ready to do another part of his routine, stealth training. (Aka pulling pranks and hiding from the ANBU.) Naruto often pranked the ANBU, this was one of his best yet. He had snuck into their headquarters and spray painted 'Come and Catch Me -N' on the wall of their training area.

Now he was eating in Ichiraku's telling Teuchi to hold of on the next batch because he smelled a Cat. Immediately he turned to see a purple haired ANBU with a cat mask. "Hi Neko-san." then he threw his chopsticks at her and ducked under an attempted grab. As he ran away she was approached by another ANBU.

"You gotta admit the kids got all the tools to be an amazing Ninja." Neko turned in shock to see Tenzō a tall ANBU with spiked brown hair staring at her.

She thought for a second before saying aggravated "Yeah, but he might not last that long if he keeps pranking the ANBU."

"You don't see it do you?"

"See what?"

"How much his pranks help us."

"Help us? Last week he put sneezing powder in our masks. How does that help us?!" she asked shouting.

"Have you ever noticed he is never able to prank us in the same way twice."

"Well yeah, but what's that got to do with it?"

"He may not know it but because of him we get better at keeping him and everyone else out of HQ. The fact that he still finds ways in shows a strategic mind hiding behind that stupid act. PLUS he pulls all these pranks while wearing BRIGHT ORANGE. He's handicapping himself and still winning." Tenzō said with a small amount of pride and admiration

The two heard a cough and someone said "Thanks for taking a look behind the mask Tenzō. Just for that I'm gonna let you bring me in. Naruto said in a serious tone with a true smile.

"No problem Naruto, I recognize a mask when I see one. Don't worry though your secret's safe with me and Neko." Tenzo replied.

"Yeah squirt I'll keep it on the down low for ya but do me a favor, next time you pull a prank on ANBU leave me out of it."

"You got it no pranking Yugao next time I go to ANBU HQ. I'll even be nice and leave you out of it too Yamato."

"Kinda thought you'd figure it out at some point" Tenzō/Yamato said as Yugao/Neko stared in shock.

"Y-you... how?" she stuttered out.

"That's for me to know and you to find out later. Now come on I wanna go see the old man" Naruto said putting back on his goofy mask.

Ten Minutes Later Hokage Tower:

Naruto was sitting in the office of the Hokage talking with the Hokage.

"Why do you persist in pranking the ANBU Naruto?"

"Alright Jiji I'm gonna let you in on a big secret but it can't leave this office also that means no ANBU, except Tenzō and Neko, they can stay."

Hiruzen gave a hand sign and all the ANBU left the room.

"I'm all ears Naruto."

"Alright the secret is… I'm not an idiot."

"Of course not. Who said you are?"

"No Jiji I mean I'm not the idiot that I show everybody."

"What do you mean Naruto?"

"I mean that when I prank people I use it as training not only for me, but others too. I mean sure it's fun pranking people, but it's no fun if you don't get anything out of it. So I prank the ninjas not the civilians."

"I'm still not sure I follow." Hiruzen said

"Well like when I prank the Hyuga I used to have it easy because the guards were changing shifts once every twelve hours and didn't use their Byakugan. Now they use rotating shift lengths that change once every other week and they use their Byakugan the whole shift."

"I think I'm starting to see the picture here. Keep talking though this might help me with something."

"OK well for the ANBU anytime I prank them they think of ways to keep me out which also makes it harder for people who aren't me to get in. Not only that but it keep the ANBU alert and ready for something at all times which is good because if we ever have people invade ANBU HQ the ANBU are ready for it. Plus they get better at tracking by hunting me down and finding me. I get the added training in planning and stealth. Also as Tenzō said I do all this in my orange jumpsuit. He's not wrong when he says I'm handicapping myself."

Tenzō spoke up and said "I knew it!... Sorry… why do you handicap yourself Naruto?"

"Well I didn't used to wear the jumpsuits but they're cheap so if they get trashed like my clothes used to, I don't have to worry. Plus if I can successfully avoid the ANBU while wearing them…"

"You'll do even better without them. Naruto how long have you known you could use this as training?" Hiruzen asked.

"Since I started at the academy."

Hiruzen stared for a moment in shock before a thought occurred to him "Naruto how would you like to get to keep pranking and also get paid for it?"

"Hmm… well how much are we talking about here?"

"How about the same amount as a D rank mission pays and C rank pay when you become a Genin."

"Deal and thanks for believing I'll make Genin."

"You've got to if you want me to hand this hat over."

To Be Continued...