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And this time Konoha found herself in the dark of the night. But to the darkness thickening over the village, because of which, after what happened in the park, it was impossible to come up with anything good, there was added a strong wind that rushed through the streets, lifting fallen leaves into the air and rolling the bottle on the ground. , which someone was too lazy to throw into the trash ... He did not subside for a minute, continuing to hum annoyingly, or even shake the windows, crashing into the glass with all his might. At such moments, our hero shuddered and, pulling the blanket tighter over himself, turned over on the other side.
This night became an eternity for the boy. Tossing and turning in bed, he could not sleep. Closing his eyes and opening them again, he again saw in front of him a man whom he had stabbed many times. No, he was no longer afraid. And the horror of what he had done had long since passed, and Naruto was willing to admit that he did not feel sorry for the man he had killed.
Iruka informed him that the rapist was from the Hidden Grass Village. And in his homeland, he managed to commit many such crimes. On his account there were several murdered children, with whom he insulted in an even more terrible way, the house of a family of people who had offended criminals burned down in it, as well as compatriots whom Nukenin wanted in all countries to contemptuously persecuted, stabbing them in the back with a knife. In Hidden Leaf Village, this shinobi was recently, judging by the body of a chuunin found in the evening, from whom the killer borrowed the formula and protector of Konoha. One way or another, now Nukenin was dead and did not threaten anyone else.
Not wanting Naruto to see Sakura's parents grieving over their daughter's body, and even more so to be asked about what happened to the other members of the search party, Umino quickly drove him home, telling the boy to come to his senses. He even suggested not going to the Academy until Uzumaki felt strong enough.
Left alone with himself, Naruto quickly got rid of his bloody clothes, took a shower, watched the water mixed with blood disappear into the sewers, looked into the refrigerator, but felt that soon he would not be able to eat anything and go to bed. He's been there for the last couple of hours.
Stop torturing yourself with senseless attempts to sleep, the Fox growled in his subconscious. "I'd rather do something useful."
- And you seem to have slept well Kurama.! Uzumaki hissed, suddenly rolling over and staring at the wall.
He felt a grudge against the Nine-Tails. Fox always helped him in difficult situations, told him what to do in one case or another. If he had obeyed his advice on the day the Uchiha clan was exterminated, then perhaps he would not have witnessed all the terrible things that turned his idea of life upside down. So why didn't the demon warn him this time?
"I haven't slept," Kyuubi admitted. "I just wanted to see what you can do without my help. If I had intervened in this matter, everything could have ended much worse.
- Sakura is dead! - exclaimed the jinchuriki, clenching their fists. The image of a girl to whom he would never tell about his feelings for her at first sight again surfaced before his eyes.
"Maybe that's better," Kurama replied with complete indifference in his voice. "I don't think she would have recovered from this. Of course, in a couple of weeks I would have committed suicide.
- How can you be such an indifferent beast ?! Naruto jumped out of bed and, unable to contain his anger, slammed his fist against the wall. - I thought we were friends!
"We're not friends," the Nine-Tails barked, making Uzumaki flinch, gritting his teeth in pain. "Remember what I told you about your parents. It was me, I killed them! I ruined your life. Everyone hates you because of me.
Naruto took a deep breath, calming down, and sat down on the edge of the bed again.
"I know," Uzumaki replied. "I also know that it is not my will. But in any case, you are the only one I have. And for that, I am grateful to you.
"Fool," the Fox growled. Sitting in the cage and looking thoughtfully through the bars at the flooded floor, he bared his teeth in a smile that Naruto had almost never seen. There was still something he kept secret from Naruto. The whole truth that Kurama revealed to young Uzumaki the first time he could contact him, he did not tell out of the kindness of his soul. The Nine-Tails hoped that the kid would lose his mind from rage, break or at least weaken the seal, and he, the Kyuubi, would be free again. But this did not happen. And for all the time that Kurama spent with Naruto, he became a little attached to his jinchuriki, although he was not going to tell him about it.
"You have something that many people lack, that Sakura lacked to survive. You proved that you can fight for your life, - continued Kurama. - The trick with the cards was very effective. And with accuracy it was better than in the lessons of throwing kunai and shuriken.
Naruto looked down at the deck on the nightstand by the side of the bed. Now it lacked not one, but seven cards.
"But it would be better if you tried to seal the techniques in them again. This time you are lucky that the enemy stumbled. But this is unlikely to happen again in the future, and what you can do may not be enough, "added Kurama. "Besides, you want to pass the genin exam, right?
Uzumaki nodded, knowing that there was no need to answer this question orally, because the answer was already obvious.
"Then start right now," he heard the Fox voice.
- What? I only know one technique! Sealing ... And even then I'm not completely sure whether it works or not! The blond exclaimed with slight indignation.
- Then I will teach you one technique ... Only one that will be within your power even for you. On it, we will check whether Mito's sealing technique is working correctly, "the Fox growled displeased.
Hearing that Kurama would personally teach him some technique, which was just incredibly cool, Naruto hurriedly got up, hastily made his bed and got dressed. And then the jinchuriki and his Bijuu began their first joint training. Naturally, both were so absorbed in the activity that they did not notice the shinobi in the ANBU mask, watching the boy's actions through an open window, sitting on a nearby roof.
And finally, in the morning, the training bore fruit. Naruto was able to successfully complete the technique by folding the seals. But, having sealed it into a map and used it with the help of it, I was convinced that this is much easier.
Taking the seven of the baptism, Naruto folded the seal of concentration with his free hand, the blond said:
- Shadow cloning technique!
Several pops were heard in the room, and four replicas of him appeared from the clouds of white smoke around the pleased Uzumaki. The jinchūriki was overjoyed.
"I can't believe ..." he whispered, thinking that even ordinary illusory cloning was always the most difficult for him.
The boy flinched at the unexpected knock on the door. At his mental command, all the shadow clones were dispelled. Walking slowly to the door and wondering who might be behind it, Naruto pulled the handle towards him.
He expected to see the Third Hokage there, who decided to visit the boy to see how he was doing, but no. On the threshold stood another old man, dressed in black and white robes, of a much less pleasant appearance. He had short hair that rose up and again fell on his forehead over a white bandage, stretched around his head several times and hiding half of his face, in particular his right eye. The old man's chin was decorated with a cruciform scar. At the sight of the boy on the threshold, his left eye slightly opened and glanced over the boy with a cold gaze.
"Uzumaki Naruto, I presume?" - said the shinobi.
The jinchuriki paused and nodded.
- And you, old man, who will you be?
"My name is Shimura Danzо, I am the head of the ANBU root," the ninja said, and Uzumaki winced again with awkwardness. He was not too polite to address a man of such a high rank. And if the good-natured Third could forgive Naruto such antics and had already closed his eyes on them for a long time, then this person would not have tolerated such an attitude that his stone face showed.
"W ... sorry," Naruto muttered uncertainly. - Let's get to know each other.
Shimura nodded curtly.
- May I come in? - he asked, also, rather, out of decency, because he knew that he would not receive a negative answer. Leaning on his cane, he strode inside and, stopping in the center of the room, surveyed the confusion reigning in Naruto's abode with appraising eyes.
The boy hurried to close the door behind him and turn to the intruder. Something told him that it was better not to turn your back on him. It was Kurama, who was so surprised by Danz's visit that he didn't immediately warn the jinchūriki:
"Naruto, be careful with this man!"
"I've heard a lot about your successes," said the head of the Root.
Naruto thought, thought and, remembering that he had not distinguished himself in anything at the Academy except for poor academic performance, he realized that the old man with bandages on his face knew about what happened yesterday and meant exactly what happened.
"Konoha owes you, Naruto. This man will not harm anyone, - continued Danzo, confirming the boy's fears. - Believe me, many already know what you have done. Rumors spread quickly in Konoha. But, alas, not all of them will be grateful to you for what you have done.
- What do you mean? Uzumaki asked cautiously, not understanding what the old man was driving at.
- As many already know, you committed murder. And against the background of what is already being said about you, this is not the best thing to do. Perhaps people will treat you even worse, "explained Shimura. "So I think you need my help.
Naruto remained silent as he waited for the head of the Root to continue.
"And I need your talents. Do you want to become a Root ninja, serve light and order from the shadows and save the world from monsters like that assassin? - as expected, Danzo did not hesitate to continue his thoughts.
"Perhaps," Naruto muttered uncertainly, and immediately a growl came in his head.
"Bad idea!"
- Then the Root is what you need. I am aware that you have technical problems, but you have a talent for extraordinary use of cards in battle. In Root, you will be prepared for everything and made a first-class shinobi, "Shimura reported, noting that Naruto had doubts. He frowned, realizing that it might not have been without Fox's intervention.
"I think I'm not ready yet ..." Uzumaki drawled, looking away and feeling goosebumps running down his spine from every gaze of the old man. "I haven't even graduated from the Academy yet.
- It's not a problem. The Root program includes an Academy crash course. Plus, I heard Iruka relieved you of your studies, "Shimura replied, putting Naruto in a quandary. - I think very soon you will notice how people will treat you. There will be even more hateful glances and whispers behind your back. No one in Root will judge you for what you have done. You will forever get rid of those who prevent you from living, your social circle will include only a few people whom you can fully trust.
"He'd better advertise new ramen in Ichiraku," the Fox growled, noting that if Danzо's voice hadn't sounded so ominous, his speech would have immediately caused Naruto to respond positively to the proposal. "Naruto, Danzо is a respected person in Konoha, and everyone believes him. But your mother was sure that he was involved in dark deeds. Besides, I heard that Root is an organization after which shinobi become obedient puppets, deprived of emotions. Do you really want it? "
"I intend to return to the Academy today," Naruto said unexpectedly harshly. - And I do not care what they say about me. The main thing is that they do not consider me a coward, as they will surely think if I suddenly disappear.
Ice sparkled in Danzо's eye.
- Aren't you afraid? Do you feel fear after what you have experienced? He asked, intending to say that serving in the Root would help Naruto to completely eradicate his feоr.
"No," Naruto replied.
"Commendable," said Shimura and slowly moved towards the door, leaning on his cane. - But think about my proposal. It remains in effect.
The old man walked away, leaving Naruto following him with a wistful look.
- What you said about the Academy, right? - Kurama was surprised when the old man reached the end of the street and turned a corner. "I thought you'd be glad to be out for a week or two.
"Yes, really. I'm not going to show anyone my weakness.
"Yes, really. I'm not going to show anyone my weakness. And I don't care what they say about me. What is the use of hiding from this if they say the same thing in my absence?" - mentally answered Naruto and, grabbing a deck of cards from the pedestal, left the apartment, squinting a little from the morning sun.
Very soon he reached the Academy, not noticing much of a difference from the way passersby stared at him now and before. When the jinchuriki entered the audience, the guys who were making noise as they usually did, fell silent. Many eyes were fixed on the Uzumaki.
- Lord, he will kill us! Someone exclaimed with mock horror.
Several people could not help laughing after this cry.
- Hey, psycho! Will you stab us or wait until they rape us?
The boy, casting an indifferent glance at them, moved to his place next to Shikamaru, who seemed to be one of all looking at him with some kind of sympathy. On the way, Naruto noticed that even Sasuke, staring gloomily out the window, deigned to look at him. There was contempt in his gaze. But not the same as before, which the Uchiha felt for jinchuriki, considering his antics to be the height of idiocy, but another. Maybe it was some kind of rebuke for what Naruto did. Uzumaki could not know what was going on in the Uchiha's head, but he realized that this was very likely, because after the experience of the massacre of his own family, Sasuke hardly admired such cruelty as the many merciless stab wounds that turned someone into a sieve. He probably thought Naruto was crazy now, too. So, the idea of the Third to make friends with Naruto and Sasuke has now become simply impossible. The Uchiha turned away, and the blond saw Sakura's empty seat next to him. Ino and Mikoto, sitting next in the front row and arguing about something, fell silent when Uzumaki walked through the opening between the desks, going up the steps.
"Stop, Mikoto," he heard Yamanaka's voice, and the next moment he felt someone gingerly take his hand.
Turning around and seeing a dark-haired girl standing up, in whose eyes a question was read, he froze.
`` Naruto ... Sakura ... she ...
"I couldn't do anything, it was too late, sorry," Uzumaki replied, and when Mikoto released him, silently nodding and sitting back down, he walked on.
Sitting down, the guy turned to Shikamaru.
- If you have questions, ask, - he indifferently suggested to his friend.
"Not worth it," said the Nara, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pack of cards. Brand new. Out of fifty-four cards. Apparently, Shikamaru is well prepared to take revenge and make sure Naruto is playing fair. - Maybe we'd better play before Iruka-sensei comes?